Volume : 5, Issue : 7, July - 2016

RELIABILITY OF RAPID DIAGNOSTIC TEST IN DIAGNOSIS OF MALARIA

Vignesh Kumar, Sivakumar Kv, Narayanababu M, Indumathy Santhanam, Heber Anandan

Abstract :

<p>&nbsp;Aim: To determine the reliability of the Rapid diagnostic test compared to the traditional peripheral smear for the diagnosis of Malaria. To assess whetherMalaria Ag Pf/Pan test is an effective and sensitive tool in the diagnosis of Malaria. Method: Cross sectional diagnostic study was done in Department of Pediatrics, Government Royapettah Hospital. Children 6 months to 12 years are admitted with Fever with chills and rigor with splenomegaly. Intervention: Malaria Ag Pf/Pan card test was used as a rapid diagnostic test. A peripheral smear was prepared at the same time and Leishman stain was used to stain the smear and examined on the same day. Results: Malaria Ag Pf/Pan test is an effective and sensitive tool in the diagnosis of Malaria. It has a very high sensitivity and specificity of 100% for detection of plasmodium falciparum. This test has a high sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 86.6% for detection of Plasmodium vivax. It has high Positive predictive values of 94.1% and a very high negative predictive value of 100% in diagnosing malaria.Conclusion: Rapid diagnostic test (Malaria Ag Pf/Pan) is a simple and effective test which can be done at bed side for diagnosing malaria.</p>