Paracheck-Pf (R): a new, inexpensive and reliable rapid test for P-falciparum malaria

We compared the performance of Paracheck-Pf(R), a new and cheap rapid malar ia test, with ICT-Pf/Pv(R) and microscopy in two malaria surveys in Thai vi llages on the Thai-Burmese border. The specificity, sensitivity, predictive positive and negative values of the Paracheck-Pf(R) and ICT-Pf(R) tests we re calculated taking microscopy results as the gold standard. The 294 ICT-P f/Pv tests resulted in two invalid (no control line) and II doubtful result s. Both the ICT-Pf/Pv(R) and Paracheck-Pf(R) rests reliably detected P. fal ciparum infections. However, Paracheck-Pf(R) failed to detect three P. falc iparum cases and likewise, ICT-Pf/Pv(R) failed to detect the same three cas es and an additional four cases. These seven cases were detected by microsc opy and had a parasitaemia under 150 parasites/mul. At a cost of c. US $1.0 0, the Paracheck-Pf(R) test, based on the detection of the P. falciparum sp ecific HRP-2 protein, is a reliable, easy to use and affordable tool for th e diagnosis of P. falciparum malaria.