1. Performance of a rapid antigen test for the diagnosis of congenital malaria.
- Author
-
Sotimehin, Sikirat A., Runsewe-Abiodun, Tamrat I., Oladapo, Olufemi T., Njokanma, Olisamedua F., and Olanrewaju, Duro M.
- Subjects
- *
MALARIA , *PLASMODIUM , *LACTATE dehydrogenase , *MEDICAL microscopy , *INFANT diseases , *EPITOPES - Abstract
Objective: To assess the performance of OptiMAL®, a rapid malaria antigen capture dipstick, in diagnosing congenital malaria. Methods: Live newborns aged 0–3 days, delivered at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Nigeria between August 2004 and January 2005, were screened for malaria parasitaemia with an immunochromatographic test (OptiMAL®) and blood film microscopy. OptiMAL® detects plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH). Results: Twenty-one of 192 newborns (10.9%) were diagnosed with congenital malaria by blood film microscopy. The OptiMAL® test was negative in all infants. Conclusion: OptiMAL® rapid malaria antigen capture dipstick might not be useful for diagnosing malaria parasitaemia in newborns. Blood film microscopy remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of congenital malaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2007
- Full Text
- View/download PDF