Alternative, non-microscopic methods for the diagnosis of
malaria have recently become available. Among these, rapid dipstick methods
stand out. One such test, OptiMAL®, is based on the immunochromatographic
detection of
Plasmodium
lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) and has the capacity to detect and distinguish
infections caused by
P. falciparum
and
Plasmodium
sp. This capacity is particularly important in countries where different
species of
Plasmodium
co-exist. In this study we evaluated the performance of OptiMAL® in
an urban referral center for malaria diagnosis. Two sets of patients were
included: one (n = 112) having predetermined infections with
P. falciparum
or
P. vivax
and individuals with negative blood smears; and another consisting of all
eligible consecutive patients (n = 80) consulting for diagnosis at the referral
center during one month. The overall diagnostic efficiency of OptiMAL®
for both sets of patients was 96.9%. Efficiency was higher for
P. vivax
(98.1%) than for
P. falciparum
(94.9%). These results corroborate the diagnostic utility of OptiMAL®
in settings where
P. vivax
and
P. falciparum
co-exist and support its implementation where microscopic diagnosis is unavailable
and in circumstances that exceed the capacity of the local microscopic diagnosis
facility.
