RDT test: formats of tests
From MalariaETC
Navigation
Go back
| TEST FORMATS |
Single test-band RDT tests
This test format usually uses the HRP2 antigen (or Pf-LDH) to detect infection by P.falciparum. The format offers particular advantages:
- Simple interpretation
- lower production cost
- Stability (of HRP2) for storage and transport
Use: The single band test detecting only P.falciparum is very useful in Africa, since in many areas infections with this species account for more than 95% of malarial infection. The test is very useful in more remote areas where technical expertise in microscopy and interprtation is often less available. However, this is at the cost missing less prevelant species, and where [ HRP2-gene deletion ] is frequent infection 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 (generallyP.falciparum but in saome areas P.vivax. The second band is most often a pan-malaria antibody.
- The format offers advantages:
- Second species infection
- Failure of band 1
- However, the limitations must be understood by users. In particular the poor sensitivity of pan-malarial antibodies for some species.