Malaria P.f Antigen Rapid Test

Background of Clinical Indications

Malaria is caused by a protozoan which invades human red blood cells.1 Malaria is one of the world's most prevalent diseases. According to the WHO, the worldwide prevalence of the disease is estimated to be 300-500 million cases and over 1 million deaths each year. Most of these victims are infants, young children.Over half of the world's population lives in malarious areas. Microscopic analysis of appropriately stained thick and thin blood smears has been the standard diagnostic technique for identifying malaria infections for more than a century.2 The technique is capable of accurate and reliable diagnosis when performed by skilled microscopists using defined protocols. The skill of the microscopist and use of proven and defined procedures, frequently present the greatest obstacles to fully achieving the potential accuracy of microscopic diagnosis. Although there is a logistical burden associated with performing a time- intensive, labor-intensive, and equipment-intensive procedure such as diagnostic microscopy, it is the training required to establish and sustain competent performance of microscopy that poses the greatest difficulty in employing this diagnostic technology.

The Malaria P.f Antigen Rapid Test is a rapid test which utilizes a pair of antibodies to qualitatively detect P. falciparum Histidine-rich protein II (pHRP-II), which enables the detection of an infection with P. falciparum.3-6 The test can be performed without cumbersome laboratory equipment, and the results are available within 20 minutes.