Comparison of Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test Kit and Microscopy

Oluwakemi Bukola Runmonkun,Udeme Owunari Georgewill,Omotayo Oluranti Ebong

doi:10.4236/pp.2019.103009

Abstract

Malaria is the most common single diagnosis made in many countries in Africa. Microscopy is the gold standard for laboratory diagnosis of malaria parasite, but it requires adequate training and the time to get results is longer than that for Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs). Use of RDTs is an alternative diagnostic method. This method is quick and easy to carry out. This study examined 412 blood samples of patients who met the study inclusion criteria from the health centres. All of the samples obtained were tested by SD Bioline malaria Ag P.f test commonly available in Nigeria and parasite count was done from thick film prepared. The results obtained were presented as a proportion positive in comparison to the total number of participants enrolled. Of the 412 enrollees, 284 were tested positive with malaria using the RDT, 400 were tested positive with microscopy and 12 were negative using microscopy and RDT. This study confirms the superior sensitivity of microscopy to RDTs in diagnosis of malaria. Although RDTs are very useful for quick diagnosis of malaria, particularly in areas where access to the use of microscopy is not available, the possibility of a low performance by RDTs in malaria diagnosis should be emphasized on health practitioners and microcopy should be encouraged as much as possible.

Highlights

Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) are very useful for quick diagnosis of malaria, in areas where access to the use of microscopy is not available, the possibility of a low performance by RDTs in malaria diagnosis should be emphasized on health practitioners and microcopy should be encouraged as much as possible
All the participants enrolled were first tested with RDT followed by microscopy
Of the 412 participants enrolled, 284 (68.93%) tested positive with malaria using RDT, 400 (97.08%) tested positive with microscopy

Summary

Introduction

A majority of such cases who go on to treat for malaria may not be infected with plasmodium parasite. Symptomatic diagnosis is often used because it is convenient but may lead to erroneous treatment because not all febrile cases presented have a corresponding positive plasmodium parasitemia. Microscopy remains the gold standard for diagnosis of malaria [3]. It is the mainstay of malaria diagnosis in most standard, well equipped health clinics and hospitals but the quality of microscopy-based diagnosis is frequently inadequate [4]. As useful as the use of microscopy in diagnosis may be, not all hospitals are equipped with a functional microscope and there may be inaccuracy in the results obtained due to unskilled technician or badly prepared slides

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Conclusion