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RDT Test antigens: review of advantages and disadvantages
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Malaria-species-specific antigens used in RDT tests
Some porotein antigens are expressed only by specific malaria species; these can therefore be used to identify these species as part of RDT assays. Two proteins are used for this purpose and are widely employed in RDT assays. These are::
(1) Histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2): An antigen that is specific for P.falciparum - Click for details of HRP2
(2) Forms of lactate dehydrogenase that are specific for either P.falciparum or P.vivax Click for details of PfLDH or PvLDH
Malaria-species-specific antigens used in RDT tests
The "pan-specific antigens" react with any of the malaria species that infect humans. Those used in malaria parasites are either the form of plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase found in all species (pan-malarial LDH) or the forms of the enzyme aldolase found in all malarial species parasite aldolase:
Click for details
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