RDT test: formats of tests
From MalariaETC
| TEST FORMATS |
Single test-band RDT tests
This test format usually uses the HRP2 antigen to detect P.falciparum and offers particular advantages:
- simplicity of interpretation
- lower production cost
- stability for storage and transport
- valuable where a single malaria species dominates.
Use: The single species test for P.falciparum is very useful in Africa areas where infections with this species account for more than 95% of infections and may be used where technical expertise is less available. However, this is at the cost missing less prevelant species, and the lack of a pan-malaria antibody means that cases with HRP2-gene delection may be missed.
Multi-band RDT tests
These use two (or occasionally more) test bands together with a control band.
Most often one band is a species-specific antibody that identifies the dominant (or most important) species for the selected region. The second band generally employs a pan-malaria antibody that may' detect other species. The most frequent format is P.falciparum-specific combined with a Pan-malaria-specific antibdy.
This format can be very effective providing its' limitations are understood by users. In particular the poor sensitivity of pan-malarial antibodies for some species.