Abstract
Background: In spite of enormous preventive and control measures, malaria has resurged in many tropical countries including India. The limited access to effective diagnosis and treatment of cases in endemic areas is one of the most important factors hampering the reduction of morbidity and mortality associated with malaria. Aims and objective: The present study was conducted with an aim to evaluate immunochromatography test (ICT) and quantitative buffy coat (QBC) against peripheral blood smear (PBS) examination for diagnosis of malaria. Material and methods: Blood samples collected from 186 clinically suspected cases of malaria was used for preparation of PBS for examination of malarial parasite, QBC and ICT. Results: Out of 186 patients included in study, 122 (65.5%) of were positive for malaria by any of the three tests used. 116 (95.1%) were positive for malarial parasite on the PBS. ICT was positive in 103 (84.4%) cases and QBC was positive in 70 (57.3%) cases. Conclusions: ICT for malaria can be used as rapid, simple and mass screening test in remote and rural areas as skilled professional are not required. ICT may prove as useful tool for malaria control programmes. In established setup where skilled and expert personnel are available PBS remains the test of choice and ICT can be used as an adjuvant to PBS.
Highlights
The disease malaria has always been the subject of research for medical practitioners
In the present study we evaluated immunochromatography test (ICT) and quantitative buffy coat (QBC) against peripheral blood smear (PBS) examination for diagnosis of malaria
Blood sample collected from these patients was used for preparation of PBS for examination of malarial parasites, QBC and ICT
Summary
The disease malaria has always been the subject of research for medical practitioners. Malaria is a parasitic infection caused by Plasmodium spp. In addition to factors like technical, administrative and operative failures of various control and eradication programmes, the increasing problem of drug resistance in malaria parasite and insecticide resistance in vector has added to malaria resurgence.[3,4]. Examination of peripheral blood smear (PBS) is considered as the “gold standard” method for the diagnosis of malaria. PBS examination is time consuming and labor intensive technique and requires high quality staining, good microscope and skilled microscopist.[6] In contrast to this, the advanced techniques like fluorescent staining, immunochromatography for detection of malarial antigens and detection of specific nucleic acid sequences are rapid and simple methods for diagnosis of malaria. In the present study we evaluated ICT and QBC against PBS examination for diagnosis of malaria
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
