Evaluation of a malaria rapid diagnostic test for assessing the burden of malaria during pregnancy
Singer, L.M.; Newman, R.D.; Diarra, A.; Moran, A.C.; Huber, C.S.; Stennies, G.; Sirima, S.B.; Konate, A.; Yameogo, M.; Sawadogo, R.; Barnwell, J.W.; Parise, M.E.
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 70(5): 481-485
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9637 PMID: 15155979 Document Number: 233834
Plasmodium falciparum infection during pregnancy may cause placental malaria and subsequently low birth weight, primarily through the placental sequestration of infected red blood cells. Measuring the burden of malaria during pregnancy usually involves determining the prevalence of placental malaria infection through microscopic examination of placental blood films, a difficult and error-prone process. A number of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for malaria have been developed, most of them immunochromatographic dipstick assays. However, none have been tested for the direct determination of malaria antigen in placental blood. We undertook an evaluation of the Malaria Rapid Test (MAKROmed) in determining placental malaria infection. The study was conducted among 853 pregnant women who had their delivery in Koupela and Pouytenga delivery units in Koupela District, Burkina Faso, between June and November 2001. The prevalence of placental parasitaemia was 22.6% by microscopy, 51.0% by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and 43.1% by RDT. When the PCR was used as the gold standard, RDTs had a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 76%. Thus, the MAKROmed RDT is highly sensitive in the detection of placental malaria, but has lower than expected specificity.