Field evaluation of the ICT Malaria P.f/P.v immunochromatographic test fordiagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum and P.vivax infection in forest villages of Chhindwara, central India

A rapid new immunochromatographic test (ICT malaria P.f/P.v) for diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum and P.vivax was evaluated against thick blood smea rs in forest villages of Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, where both Plasmodium falciparum and P.vivax are prevalent. 344 symptomatic patients (Gond ethnic tribe) in five villages were screened by field staff of the Malaria Resear ch Centre in October 1999. For P.falciparum, the ICT was 97.5% sensitive an d 88% specific, with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 87.6% and a negat ive predictive value (NPV) of 97.6%. For P.vivax the sensitivity was only 7 2%, the specificity 99%, with a PPV of 92% and an NPV of 96%. Although a ne gative test result was inadequate to exclude parasitaemia less than or equa l to 300/mul for P.falciparum and less than or equal to 1500/mul for P.viva x, the test is potentially useful in remote areas.