Positive control wells: a potential answer to remote-area quality assurance of malaria rapid diagnostic tests.
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg
; 99(7): 493-8, 2005 Jul.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-15869776
ABSTRACT
Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are a potential breakthrough in the provision of accurate diagnosis in remote areas, but widescale use is hampered by uncertainty over accuracy under field conditions. Positive control wells, which contain recombinant malaria parasite antigen, are a novel method for addressing this need for quality assurance. The potential of a commercially available positive control well, reconstituted with blood, was assessed for use in routine monitoring of RDT sensitivity in a remote malaria-endemic region. When maintained at 4 degrees C, the wells produced a consistent level of parasite lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) antigen activity, as detected by pLDH-detecting RDTs, but activity reduced after cumulative exposure to temperatures likely to be encountered over a few months in a malaria-endemic area. This limitation was successfully overcome in the field through centralized, controlled storage. Monitoring of RDT sensitivity was successfully incorporated into routine supervisory visits to remote clinics. However, improved temperature stability of the wells would enhance their potential. The threshold at which the wells' signal reduced RDT sensitivity requires further investigation. The wells show potential to overcome an important obstacle to the wide implementation of accurate parasite-based diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Further assessment of their place in malaria management is warranted.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Garantia da Qualidade dos Cuidados de Saúde
/
Kit de Reagentes para Diagnóstico
/
Malária Falciparum
/
Testes Diagnósticos de Rotina
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Evaluation_studies
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg
Ano de publicação:
2005
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Camboja