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| HOW WELL ARE DIFFERENT SPECIES DETECTED?
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The different malaria species are detected with different sensitivity. The table below provides an overall summary of the sensitivity that can be expected for RDT tests when suitable species-specific together with pan-malarial antibodies are used. The table is only a broad summary. Users are advised to understand the characteristics of the test they use including the merits of the antibodies employed in their test (see section below)
P.falciparum1
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| At high parasitaemia expect high sensitivity (90-95%). This declines when parasite levels are lower (45-70%)2
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P.vivax
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| Expect moderate to high sensitivity at high parasitaemia (70-90%). This declines markedly when parasite levels are lower (30-60%)2
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P.ovale & P.malarae
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| Generally sensitivity is poor (approximately half the sensitivity shown for P.vivax)
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P.knowlesi3
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| Reports suggest variable sensitivity that may depend on test used, RDTs are reported tp detect this species well when parasitaemia is high.
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