Rapid Test Kit Research Articles

Diagnostic Accuracy of Antigen-Based Rapid Test during the Fourth Wave of COVID-19 in Edo State, Nigeria

Background: Since the use of rapid test kits for diagnosis of COVID-19, diagnostic accuracy has been of concern, particularly in resource- limited settings. This study assessed diagnostic accuracy of Abbot Panbio antigen-based rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for COVID-19 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as the gold standard in Edo State, Nigeria.
 Methodology: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study during the 4th wave of the pandemic in Edo State from January 5 – February 4th, 2022. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs were collected from 240 consenting participants at 10 sample collection sites. The index test (RDT) and gold standard test (real-time reverse transcription PCR) were performed simultaneously. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and ROC analysis were conducted on the RDT compared to RT-PCR using SPSS version 26.0 software. 
 Results: Thirty-six (15.0%) participants tested positive on RDT and 34 (14.2%) tested positive on PCR. RDT had a sensitivity of 73.5% (95% CI: 66.0–81.0) and specificity of 94.7% (95% CI: 91.6-97.8) with a positive predictive value of 69.4% (95% CI: 55.8-80.7), and negative predictive value of 95.6% (95% CI: 91.8-98.0). The area under the curve (AUC) of the ROC for the RDT against PCR was 84.1% (75.1% - 93.1%).
 Conclusion: The diagnostic accuracy of the Panbio rapid antigen test for SARSCoV-2 was below WHO standards. However, they remain useful tools for continued surveillance of the disease. Rigorous evaluations combining the results of rapid antigen tests with other clinical information would prove useful for prompt diagnosis and surveillance of COVID-19 in Nigeria.

Therapeutic Management of Canine Ehrlichiosis: Lesson Learned from Bareilly, India

The study was conducted on 5 dogs presented at Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Indian Veterinary Research Institute with history of anorexia, lethargy, weakness, high fever, vomiting, severe panting and heavy tick infestation. Physical examination of dogs revealed increased respiratory rate, pale mucus membrane and conjunctiva, dehydration and enlarged lymph nodes. Haematological finding showed marked anaemia and thrombocytopenia. Sonographic and radiographic investigation of the abdomen revealed splenomegaly and partial hepatomegaly. Parasitological examination found it positive for Ehrlichia canis and confirmed the ticks Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Dog was treated with doxycycline @ 10 mg/kg for 28 days in divided dose with supportive therapy. Dog showed marked recovery after 2 dose of doxycycline and re-examination of blood after 20 days gave negative results in rapid test kit.

Semi-quantitative metalloproteinase-8 rapid test for the prediction of adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes

ObjectiveWe aimed to determine whether the semi-quantitative metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) bedside test is a worthwhile indicator in reflecting the severity of of intra-amniotic inflammation (IAI) and in predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes. Study DesignThis retrospective cohort study comprised 76 singleton-pregnant women admitted to the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital with a diagnosis of preterm premature rupture of membranes (preterm PROM) between 20 weeks 0 days and 33 weeks 6 days of gestation who underwent trans-abdominal amniocentesis to confirm intra-amniotic infection by positive results for aerobic/anaerobic bacteria, fungi, and genital mycoplasma and evaluate lung maturity. The semi-quantitative MMP-8 rapid test kit employs a colourimetric assay to quantify MMP-8 levels in amniotic fluid (AF), expressing results from 0 to 100 percent. Participants were divided into three groups: group 1, including negative MMP-8 test with colour scale of 0 % (negative, n = 17); group 2, including positive MMP-8 test with colour scale < 51 % (weak positive, n = 21); and group 3, including positive MMP-8 test with colour scale of 51 %–100 % (strong positive, n = 38). ResultsApproximately 78 % (59/76) of the participants showed a positive MMP-8 test result; all culture-proven AF samples (33.3 % [25/75]) yielded positive MMP-8 test, categorizing these patients into either group 2 or group 3. A significant trend was observed where the rate of positive culture-proven samples increased with the progression from group 1 (negative) to group 3 (strong positive). Both white blood cell counts in AF and maternal serum C-reactive protein levels were found to escalate with the progression of test results from negative to strong positive. This progression was associated with an increased risk of spontaneous preterm birth within 48 h, 7 days, and 14 days from amniocentesis and within 34 weeks of gestation. ConclusionThe more the test results progress from negative to strong positive, the shorter the interval from amniocentesis to delivery becomes, and the higher the risk of intra-amniotic infection, spontaneous preterm delivery, and other perinatal complications. This relationship highlights the critical value of the semi-quantitative MMP-8 rapid test in predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with preterm PROM.

Evaluation of the diagnostic value of a rapid diagnostic test kit for detection of rubella virus

Rubella is a respiratory infection caused by the Rubella virus. Although most cases of the disease are mild, when pregnant women contact with the virus, it can lead to severe birth defects in the fetus. Therefore, screening and early diagnosis of rubella infection are necessary. In pursuit of this objective, we have conducted research and developed a rapid test kit for the rubella virus antigen. The test kit is based on a lateral flow immunoassay that utilises gold nanoparticles. This study aimed to characterise the test kit by evaluating its detection threshold, cross-reactivity with several pathogens, repeatability, sensitivity, and specificity. The results showed that the test kit is capable of detecting samples containing 105 PFU of the rubella virus. The kit did not show any cross-reactivity with samples containing pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Candida albicans,the measles virus, influenza virus or Adenovirus. The test kit exhibited 100% reproducibility for both negative and positive samples. Its sensitivity and specificity were determined to be 98 and 99%, respectively.

Meta-analytic review on the impact of factors that affect performance of malaria rapid diagnostic test in Africa

Timely, accurate diagnosis and treatment has improved malaria case management. Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test (mRDT) kits are largely used in malaria diagnosis. Their performance is compromised by factors related to gene deletions, parasite density, quality of the kit, poor storage conditions and end-user inefficiencies hence diagnosis gives either positive, negative, false negative (FN) or false positive (FP) which defines consequent management strategies. This review assessed reports on prevalence of the Plasmodium falciparum histidine rich protein 2/3 (Pfhrp2/3) gene deletions in malaria infected populations in Africa and the risk of mRDT failure to identify malaria positive cases. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement was used for data collection. Literature search was done using Google and Mendel search for data published in a malaria journal, Journal of infectious diseases, scientific reports, Annals of Ibadan postgraduate medicine, and BMC journals published between 2019 and 2023. Fifty eight reports were identified were screened and tested for eligibility. &#x0D; Majority of studies described the consistent use of Pfhrp2/3 mRDT for malaria diagnosis in rural health facilities in Africa and nine reports met inclusion criteria for review. Five of them certified the world health organization’s sample criteria of ‘more than 350 sample’ to estimate the prevalence of Pfhrp2/3 gene deletions leading to declaration of false negative results of which one study posted FN outcome resulting from these deletions. Four out of nine studies did not meet this WHO criterion. This review affirmed presence of Pfhrp2/3 gene deletions challenges in Africa though other countries recorded the converse. Data was pooled using random effect models with Odds ratio and 95% confidence limit. The prevalence of the gene deletions was heterogeneous, ranging from 0% to 78.1%. The review found that an average prevalence of Pfhrp2/3 deletion as 26.2%. This was above the WHO standard recommended declaration value of 5%.; a factor that demonstrated setback to the use of mRDT in malaria endemic regions. Therefore alternative methods should be used where aspersions are cast on outcome of mRDT for &#x0D; it will help improve malaria treatment, tracking and management.

Association of Helicobacter Pylori in Chronic Tonsillitis.

The objective of the study was to detect the presence of Helicobacter pylori in adenotonsillar tissue and to assess the association between the presence of H pylori with Chronic Tonsillitis or Adenotonsillitis. This was a cross sectional study conducted among 60 patients diagnosed with chronic tonsillitis and adeno tonsillitis undergoing tonsillectomy or adeno tonsillectomy meeting the paradise criteria in a tertiary care hospital, Pondicherry. Rapid urease test was done in the intraoperative period immediately after the specimens were taken.The rapid urease test kit was observed for color change from yellow to pink within 4h. The tissue was sent for histopathological examination for staining with H&E and Giemsa stain to detect the presence of helicobacter pylori. The mean age of the study participants was 15.75 ± 8.46 and majority of the study participants were females. (61.7%). 66.7% and 33.3% of the study participants had chronic tonsillitis and adeno tonsillitis respectively. Oral swab showed normal flora, yeast and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus in 96.6%, 1.7% and 1.7% respectively. 1.7% (1),13.3% (8) and 20% (12) of the study participants showed positive in card test immediate, at 15min and 1h respectively. Giemsa stain showed that 11.7% was positive for H.pylori. Out of the 7 patients with positive Giemsa stain, 4 had chronic tonsillitis and 3 had adenotonsillitis. Colonisation of adenoids and tonsils byH.pyloriis a novel forefront with contradictory results dependent on the precision of the detective techniques used and population studied. Further research may be warranted to establish the varied colonisation depending on the geographical locations.

The current state and outlook of HIV infection and AIDS in South Korea

Background: Over the past decade, approximately 1,100 newly diagnosed cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have been reported annually in South Korea, with 1,066 newly diagnosed cases reported in 2022. A decrease in HIV infection rate can be achieved only through coordinated prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. South Korea is lagging in the worldwide decreasing trend of HIV infection, and a brief review of this situation may suggest improvements necessary for progress.Current Concepts: In South Korea, the proportion of patients with CD4 cell count below 200 cells/mm&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt; at initial diagnosis of HIV infection remains high, suggesting that a significant population is diagnosed at the late stage of the disease. Since 2019, the Korean National Health Insurance Service began to cover the cost of preexposure prophylaxis for sexual partners of patients living with HIV, but few have started the regimen due to several barriers. Insurance criteria for a prophylaxis regimen should be modified, and accessibility to the regimen should be made available through multiple pathways. Proactive use of rapid HIV testing kits in community health centers and clinics should be expanded. Legal and administrative environments encouraging voluntary testing, early diagnosis, and treatment should be fostered. Medical personnel must be able to offer medical care without discrimination regardless of HIV infection status.Discussion and Conclusion: The HIV epidemic in South Korea has not yet decreased. To end it, efforts should be required across broad areas, including voluntary HIV testing, early diagnosis, active pre-exposure prophylaxis, a stigma- and discrimination-free social environment, and changes in legal and medical environments.

In Vitro Detection of Lactate and Uric Acid Based on Adaptive Graphene Oxide Membranes

In vitro detection of small molecules in the human circulatory system contributes a lot to prompt personalized healthcare and early disease diagnose. The precise detection requires to select target molecules for real‐time noninvasive identifications, which remains a challenge derived from the lack of both molecule‐sieving techniques and rapid detection tools. Herein, positively charged polymer chains into graphene oxide membranes are seeded to tune their interlayer spacing precisely and persistently within a range of 8.67–13.75 Å. The adaptive yet stable nanocapillaries allow membranes to sieve small molecules with fitted sizes, for example, salts and biomarkers. The molecule‐sieving membranes with organic electrochemical transistors, further achieving an in vitro detection of lactate and uric acid with a high accuracy, are coupled. Based on this finding, a wearable sweat lactate rapid test kit, which detects sweat lactate secreted from human body within a few minutes, is demonstrated.

Diagnostic performance evaluation of urine HIV-1 antibody rapid test kits in a real-life routine care setting in China

ObjectivesTo evaluate the diagnostic performance of urine HIV antibody rapid test kits in screening diverse populations and to analyse subjects’ willingness regarding reagent types, purchase channels, acceptable prices, and self-testing.DesignsDiagnostic...

Sensitivity of commercial rapid test kit to pork contamination in processed foods

Guaranteeing halal products has now become a necessity, especially for food products. This is intended to ensure that the food produced is not contaminated with non-halal ingredients, including pork. Pork contamination in processed meat foods such as meatballs is still often found. Various tests can be done to detect the presence of pork in processed foods. One of them is a rapid test using the LFIA method. This test is widely used because it is more efficient, economical, and easy to prepare samples. A rapid pork contamination test kit (XEMA) has been circulating in Indonesia. In the research, the sensitivity of this rapid test kit was tested on processed meat foods with various concentrations of pork and variations in the main ingredients. The color test shows that the simulated samples of beef meatballs without added pork are dark greyish white, as are the simulated samples with concentrations of 1% and 10%. Meanwhile, samples with concentrations of 20% and 40% have a paler color. Meanwhile, there was no significant difference in the variation in pork concentration in meatballs with the main ingredients of chicken and fish. For smell and texture, there were no significant differences in the simulated samples, both the control and samples with varying concentrations. From testing, it is known that the test kit can detect the presence of pork up to a concentration of 10% in samples, with the main ingredients being beef, chicken, or fish. These results indicate that this rapid test kit can well detect pork contamination in processed food samples.

Serological Comparison of Native Antigen ELISAs with Rapid ICT Test Kits for the Diagnosis of Human Alveolar and Cystic Echinococcosis in China.

The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of native antigen ELISAs and ADAMU-AE/CE commercial ICT test kits in subjects either exposed to Echinococcus infection or with clinically diagnosed alveolar (AE) or cystic (CE) echinococcosis. A total of 370 subjects with a previous clinical confirmation of CE or AE from northwestern China were recruited. Serum samples were also obtained from 3923 children/teenagers during a community survey. All sera were tested using native antigen ELISAs. The ADAMU-AE/CE test kits were subsequently used for the serology of the 370 clinically confirmed individuals and of 251 children/teenagers that were ELISA antibody-positive for both Echinococcus species but ultrasound-negative during baseline survey. An analysis of the association between the serological tests and ultrasound classification was carried out amongst 89 AE and 164 CE cases. A Kappa consistency analysis was undertaken to compare the diagnostic performance of the native antigen ELISAs and the ADAMU kits and the ultrasound imaging results. The χ² test was also used for a comparison of the different seropositivity rates between the groups. There was poor consistency (Kappa = 0.26 and 0.28 for AE and CE respectively) between the native antigen ELISAs and the ADAMU kits for the diagnosis of AE and CE among the cases and the surveyed children/teenagers, but a relatively good consistency (Kappa = 0.63) between the ADAMU-AE kit and ultrasound observations for the AE cases. Additionally, of the 251 teenagers co-positive for both AE and CE antibodies by the native antigen ELISAs, only one was found positive by the ADAMU-AE kit, verified as a new AE case on subsequent ultrasound follow-up. The remainder (N = 250) were negative by serology using the ADAMU-AE/CE kits and by ultrasound examination. The two native antigen ELISAs did not discriminate well between cases of clinically diagnosed AE and CE. In contrast, ADAMU-AE and ADAMU-CE commercial ICT test kits readily differentiated cases of AE from CE with specificities of 99% for AE and 100% for CE. The ADAMU-AE/CE kits proved reliable, accurate, and amenable diagnostic tools in the clinical setting for confirmation of suspected AE/CE cases. The native antigen ELISAs tests can provide useful information on the level of human exposure to Echinococcus infection.

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Malaria Infections, and High Serum Prostate Specific Antigen Levels among Individuals at the Rivers State University, Nigeria: Findings of a Free Medical Outreach

Background: Co-morbidity of infections and non-infectious diseases is increasing in developing societies with little effort in identifying these trends. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, malaria infections, and high serum prostate-specific antigen levels among individuals and residents at Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.&#x0D; Experimental Design: The study is a cross-sectional descriptive study, which consisted of 501 participants in a free medical outreach organized by the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, Rivers State University Chapter, Rivers State, Nigeria, in commemoration of the 2022 International Biomedical Day. The test subjects consisted of males and females, who were students, staff, and residents at the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The age range of the test subjects was 18-64 years.&#x0D; Methods: The cross-sectional descriptive study encompassed 501 adults (males and females) who gave consent for their blood screening during our free medical outreach. As a procedure, venous blood specimens were collected at the antecubital fossa from the attendees by venipuncture technique and were screened forH. Pylori antibody, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, malaria parasite, and prostate-specific antigen with the use of Accu-Tell rapid diagnostic test kits. Each test was read within 10 minutes. Red lines on the test zone and control zones of the test kits were read and recorded as positive cases, while a red line on the control zone and the absence of a red line on the test zone of the test kit were read, and recorded as negative case, in line with the rapid diagnostic manufacturer’s instructions.&#x0D; Results: Out of a total of 501 participants, the prevalence of H. pylori, M. tuberculosis, Plasmodium falciparum, and prostate-specific antigen were 9 (1.79 %), 3 (0.6 %), 12 (2.40 %), 6 (4.65 %%) respectively. The sex-based comparison showed that males have the same prevalence for all infectious diseases (H. pylori, M. tuberculosis, and P. falciparum) of 3 (2.32 %), and 6 (4.65 %) for a prostate-specific antigen. For the females, the prevalence of H. pylori, M. tuberculosis and P. falciparum were 6 (2.20 %), 0 (0.00 %), and 9 (2.42 %) respectively.&#x0D; Conclusion: M. tuberculosis prevalence was observed to be greater in the males than in the females of the studied population while that of H. pylori was observed to be higher in the females than the male participants. So continuous screening of the public to monitor and prepare them against the insurgence of these diseases which are of public health concern is important.

Whole genome sequencing unravels cryptic circulation of divergent dengue virus lineages in the rainforest region of Nigeria

ABSTRACT Dengue is often misclassified and underreported in Africa due to inaccurate differential diagnoses of nonspecific febrile illnesses such as malaria, sparsity of diagnostic testing and poor clinical and genomic surveillance. There are limited reports on the seroprevalence and genetic diversity of dengue virus (DENV) in humans and vectors in Nigeria. In this study, we investigated the epidemiology and genetic diversity of dengue in the rainforest region of Nigeria. We screened 515 febrile patients who tested negative for malaria and typhoid fever in three hospitals in Oyo and Ekiti States in southern Nigeria with a combination of anti-dengue IgG/IgM/NS1 rapid test kits and metagenomic sequencing. We found that approximately 28% of screened patients had previous DENV exposure, with the highest prevalence in persons over sixty. Approximately 8% of the patients showed evidence of recent or current infection, and 2.7% had acute infection. Following sequencing of sixty samples, we assembled twenty DENV-1 genomes (3 complete and 17 partial). We found that all assembled genomes belonged to DENV-1 genotype III. Our phylogenetic analyses showed evidence of prolonged cryptic circulation of divergent DENV lineages in Oyo state. We were unable to resolve the source of DENV in Nigeria owing to limited sequencing data from the region. However, our sequences clustered closely with sequences in Tanzania and sequences reported in Chinese with travel history to Tanzania in 2019. This may reflect the wider unsampled bidirectional transmission of DENV-1 in Africa, which strongly emphasizes the importance of genomic surveillance in monitoring ongoing DENV transmission in Africa.

Molecular speciation of Plasmodium and multiplicity of P. falciparum infection in the Central region of Ghana.

Malaria is endemic in the Central region of Ghana, however, the ecological and the seasonal variations of Plasmodium population structure and the intensity of malaria transmission in multiple sites in the region have not been explored. In this cross-sectional study, five districts in the region were involved. The districts were Agona Swedru, Assin Central and Gomoa East (representing the forest zone) and Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese and Cape Coast representing the coastal zone. Systematically, blood samples were collected from patients with malaria. The malaria status was screened with a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kit (CareStart manufactured by Access Bio in Somerset, USA) and the positive ones confirmed microscopically. Approximately, 200 μL of blood was used to prepare four dried blood spots of 50μL from each microscopy positive sample. The Plasmodium genome was sequenced at the Malaria Genome Laboratory (MGL) of Wellcome Sanger Institute (WSI), Hinxton, UK. The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the parasite mitochondria (PfMIT:270) core genome aided the species identification of Plasmodium. Subsequently, the complexity of infection (COI) was determined using the complexity of infection likelihood (COIL) computational analysis. In all, 566 microscopy positive samples were sequenced. Of this number, Plasmodium genome was detected in 522 (92.2%). However, whole genome sequencing was successful in 409/522 (72.3%) samples. In total, 516/522 (98.8%) of the samples contained P. falciparum mono-infection while the rest (1.2%) were either P. falciparum/P. ovale (Pf/Po) (n = 4, 0.8%) or P. falciparum/P. malariae/P. vivax (Pf/Pm/Pv) mixed-infection (n = 2, 0.4%). All the four Pf/Po infections were identified in samples from the Assin Central municipality whilst the two Pf/Pm/Pv triple infections were identified in Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese district and Cape Coast metropolis. Analysis of the 409 successfully sequenced genome yielded between 1-6 P. falciparum clones per individual infection. The overall mean COI was 1.78±0.92 (95% CI: 1.55-2.00). Among the study districts, the differences in the mean COI between ecological zones (p = 0.0681) and seasons (p = 0.8034) were not significant. However, regression analysis indicated that the transmission of malaria was more than twice among study participants aged 15-19 years (OR = 2.16, p = 0.017) and almost twice among participants aged over 60 years (OR = 1.91, p = 0.021) compared to participants between 20-59 years. Between genders, mean COI was similar except in Gomoa East where females recorded higher values. In conclusion, the study reported, for the first time, P. vivax in Ghana. Additionally, intense malaria transmission was found to be higher in the 15-19 and > 60 years, compared to other age groups. Therefore, active surveillance for P. vivax in Ghana and enhanced malaria control measures in the 15-19 year group years and those over 60 years are recommended.

Preliminary Test of Candidate Rapid Diagnostic Test for the Detection of 38 kDa Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Antigen in Saliva

Background and Objectives Identifying tuberculosis (TB) in pediatric cases is a major challenge in developing countries, as children have problems with expelling sputum, making specific diagnostics crucial. The objective of the study was to develop a rapid test using polyclonal antibodies to detect antigen 38kDa from Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the saliva of TB patients. Materials and Methods The recombinant protein Ag38 was purified using the Ni-NTA purification kit. Polyclonal antibodies were generated in BALB-c mice using 50 µg/ml of purified Ag38 recombinant protein. A Lateral Flow Assay (LFA) was constructed, employing 5 mg/mL colloidal gold-labelled polyclonal antibody anti-Ag38 in the test line to capture the conjugates, while goat anti-mouse IgG was used in the control line. The LFA was tested in 5 TB patients and 7 healthy person served as negative control . Results The recombinant protein achieved 95% purity. The rapid test kit, with a detection limit of 5.3 µg/mL, successfully identified Ag38 protein in TB patient saliva (positive control) and not in healthy human serum (negative control). While reproducibility was confirmed for TB patients, results were inconsistent for healthy individuals. Conclusion The Lateral Flow Assay using polyclonal antibody Ag38 displays promise in detecting M tuberculosis antigen in the saliva of TB patients. Further validation with more TB patient saliva samples is needed to determine LFA sensitivity and specificity.

Prevalence of Asymptomatic Falciparum Malaria, Risk Factors, and Absence of PfHRP2 Gene Deletion in Makurdi, Nigeria

Background: Malaria remains a persistent public health challenge, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where asymptomatic falciparum malaria poses a significant threat. Asymptomatic cases serve as a crucial parasite reservoir, contributing to ongoing transmission.&#x0D; Aim: The study investigates the prevalence of asymptomatic falciparum malaria and assesses the occurrence of gene deletion in the Plasmodium falciparum Histidine Rich Protein 2 (Pf HRP2) gene in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.&#x0D; Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted between September and October 2019, which involved 374 apparently healthy individuals from five communities. Malaria diagnosis utilized Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits, microscopy, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Pf HRP2 gene assessment.&#x0D; Results: The study found a prevalence of 25.4% by RDT and 28.1% by microscopy. Asymptomatic falciparum malaria was significantly influenced by location, proximity to water bodies, bed net usage, and history of malaria treatment, while, age, and insecticide usage showed no significant impact. PCR results revealed amplified fragments with band sizes ranging from 600 to 900 base pairs in 40 positive isolates, eliminating Pf HRP2 gene deletion as a cause for false negatives observed between RDT and microscopy results.&#x0D; Discussion/Conclusion: The study highlights a high malaria transmission rate in Nigeria, emphasizing the role of location-specific factors and bed net usage in the proliferation of asymptomatic falciparum malaria. Importantly, no gene deletion was identified in the Pf HRP2 gene among the studied Plasmodium falciparum isolates.

Malaria elimination in Ghana: recommendations for reactive case detection strategy implementation in a low endemic area of Asutsuare, Ghana.

Progress toward malaria elimination is increasing as many countries near zero indigenous malaria cases. In settings nearing elimination, interventions will be most effective at interrupting transmission when targeted at the residual foci of transmission. These foci may be missed due to asymptomatic infections. To solve this problem, the World Health Organization recommends reactive case detection (RACD). This case study was conducted to identify individuals with asymptomatic malaria, their predisposing risk factors and recommend RACD in Asutsuare, Ghana based on literature review and a cross sectional study. The study involved a search on PubMed and Google Scholar of literature published between 1st January, 2009-14th August, 2023 using the search terms "malaria" in "Asutsuare". Furthermore, structured questionnaires were administered to one hundred individuals without symptoms of malaria and screened using rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits, microscopy and real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR). Malaria prevalence based on the three diagnostic techniques as well as potential malaria risk factors were assessed through questionnaires in a cross-sectional study. Cumulatively, sixty-four (64) studies (Google Scholar, 57 and PubMed, 7) were reviewed and 22 studies included in the literature on malaria in Asutsuare, Ghana. Significant risk factors were occupation, distance from a house to a waterbody, age group and educational level. Out of the 100 samples, 3 (3%) were positive by RDT, 6 (6%) by microscopy and 9 (9%) by rt-PCR. Ages 5-14.9 years had the highest mean malaria parasite densities of 560 parasites/µl with Plasmodium falciparum as the dominant species in 4 participants. Moreover, in the age group ≥ 15, 2 participants (1 each) harboured P. falciparum and Plasmodium malariae parasites. RDT had a higher sensitivity (76.54%; CI95 66.82-85.54) than rt-PCR (33.33%; CI95 4.33-77.72), while both rt-PCR and RDT were observed to have a higher specificity (92.55; CI95 85.26-96.95) and (97.30; CI95 93.87-99.13), respectively in the diagnosis of malaria. In Asutsuare, Ghana, a low endemic area, the elimination of malaria may require finding individuals with asymptomatic infections. Given the low prevalence of asymptomatic individuals identified in this study and as repleted in the literature review, which favours RACD, Asutsuare is a possible setting receptive for RACD implementation.

Performance and Comparison of two Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests among Symptomatic Patients in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria

Malaria remains a public health problem in Sub Saharan Africa. Microscopic identification of Plasmodium spp. is the gold standard for malaria diagnosis. However, malaria rapid diagnostic test kits are also available for prompt diagnosis, effective treatment and are important in reducing morbidity and mortality associated with malaria especially among high-risk groups. The use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) has improved Plasmodium falciparum diagnosis, especially in settings where quality microscopy is not available. Field evaluation of RDTs would assist in confirming the potency, performance of the RDTs and in ruling out or confirming malaria parasite. In this study, the performance of two RDTs were assessed for malaria diagnosis, using thick and thin blood smears as the gold standard. A total of 1,271 patients suspected to have malaria who gave consent were enrolled in the study within six months at St Matthew”s Primary Health Center Amukoko in Ajeromi Ifelodun LGA of Lagos state. The study population age range between 2-67years. This is a cross-sectional study involving patients with history of malaria symptoms. The SD Bioline and First Response HRP2 based MRDTs were evaluated in this study. Of the patients 1,271 screened for malaria, 185 were slide positive for malaria parasites. Blood smears and HRP2 First response RDT showed malaria prevalence rate of 14.6%, while the HRP2 SD Bioline RDT showed prevalence rate of 15.5%. The SD Bioline HRP2 RDTs showed a sensitivity of 61.1%, specificity of 92.3%, PPV of 57.4% and NPV of 93.3%, while the First response RDT showed a sensitivity of 58.9%, specificity of 93.1%, PPV of 59.6% and NPV of 92.9%. In this study, the sensitivity of the RDT increased with parasite density (&gt;1000p/µl showed sensitivity &gt;90%). All the malaria rapid diagnostic test kits performed relatively well and can be used in emergencies. Concerning cost-effectiveness, using the malaria RDTs at the hospital is cheaper than light microscopy for diagnosing malaria. However, for malaria diagnosis, malaria RDT kits cannot be relied upon alone; hence, microscopic confirmation is always required.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B, C, and its associated risk factors among clinically suspected patients attending poly and Maraki Health Centers, Gondar City, North West Ethiopia.

Hepatitis B and C viruses are major global health problems with a high mortality rate, mostly due to serious liver diseases such as liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of the hepatitis B and C viruses and associated risk factors among clinically suspected patients attending Poly and Maraki Health Centers in Gondar City. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted to recruit 422 clinically suspected patients attending Poly and Maraki Health Centers between June and August 2020. The blood sample was tested for hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-Hepatitis C virus antibodies using commercially available rapid test kits. We used logistic regression and chi-square analysis to assess factors associated with Hepatitis B virus and Hepatitis C virus infections. The overall prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-Hepatitis C virus antibodies was 29 (6.9%) and 5 (1.2%), respectively. The prevalence of Hepatitis B virus and Hepatitis C virus was found to be significantly higher at Maraki Health Center. Multiple sexual partners (adjusted odd ratio (AOR = 12.299; 95% CI = 2.515-60.142), history of delivery by traditional birth attendants (AOR = 6.284; 95% CI = 2.373-16.637), surgical history (AOR = 3.679; 95% CI = 1.009-13.417), previous hepatitis infections (AOR = 10.374; 95% CI = 1.128-95.444), and upper abdominal pain (AOR = 3.382; 95% CI = 1.215-9.414) were significantly associated with an increased risk of Hepatitis B virus infections. On the other hand, a history of blood transfusion (AOR = 43.132; 95% CI = 1.385-1343.176) and a history of kidney dialysis (AOR = 71.199; 95% CI = 2.074-2444.646) were significantly associated with Hepatitis C virus infection. According to the WHO endemicity classification, the prevalence of the hepatitis B virus was intermediate, while that of the hepatitis C virus was low. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the efforts to control and prevent Hepatitis B virus and Hepatitis C virus infections.

Evaluation of a point-of-care rapid diagnostic test kit (SICKLECHECK) for screening of sickle cell diseases.

Sickle cell diseases (SCD) are the most common genetic disorders with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, including in India. The high prevalence of this disorder in many geographical regions calls for the use of a point-of-care rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for early screening and management of the diagnosed cases to reduce the allied clinical severity. In view of this, the present study was undertaken for the validation of a point-of-care RDT kit (SICKLECHECKTM) for the screening of SCD. This validation and diagnostic accuracy study was conducted among the cases advised for screening of SCD. For validation, all the recruited cases were investigated for both the SICKLECHECKTM RDT kit and HPLC (Variant-II) considering HPLC as a gold standard. A total of 400 cases were screened for both tests. For the presence and absence of sickle cell hemoglobin in the samples, SICKLECHECKTM RDT kit results showed a sensitivity and specificity of 99.39% and 98.73% respectively with references to HPLC findings. For the detection of the 'AS' pattern, the SICKLECHECKTM RDT kit has shown a sensitivity and specificity of 99.07% and 98.81% respectively. For the detection of the 'SS' pattern, the SICKLECHECKTM RDT kit has shown a sensitivity and specificity of 97.92% and 100.0% respectively. Cases with β thalassemia trait, hemoglobin E trait, hemoglobin Lepore trait and trait for hereditary-persistence-of-fetal-hemoglobin (high HbF %) diagnosed in HPLC were resulted with 'AA' pattern in SICKLECHECKTM RDT kit. The high sensitivity and specificity of the SICKLECHECKTM RDT kit insist on its use as a point-of-care screening tool for SCD especially where there is a lack of laboratory facilities as well as in hospital-based set-up requiring immediate diagnosis and management of SCD. However, for further confirmation, the samples should be analyzed with other gold standard techniques like HPLC.