EVALUATION OF MALARIA ANTIGEN TEST AND PERIPHERAL BLOOD SMEARS IN DIAGNOSIS OF MALARIA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Aim: Comparative evaluation of malaria antigen test and peripheral blood smears in diagnosis of malaria.

Methods and Material: A competitive evaluation study was carried out in the Department of Microbiology, Neta Ji Subhas Medical College and Hospital,Bihta, Patna, Bihar India from November 2019 to April  2020. All the Blood samples from suspected cases of malaria were routinely subjected to peripheral smear examination and RDT for the presence of malaria parasite.

Results: out of 400 patients 50% male and 50% female on the basis of age 60% patients  20to 40 year and 21.25 % patients  above 40 year  and most of the patients 82.5% from urban area and 17.5% from rural area. Of the 400 Peripheral smears studied, 125 showed positive for malarial parasite. Plasmodium Vivax(Pv) was diagnosed in 122 Cases, Plasmodium Falciparum (Pf) was identified in 2 case and one smear showed mixed infection with both Plasmodium Vivax and Plasmodium Falciparum.Rapid Diagnostic test showed 137 positive cases, of which 129 were plasmodium Vivax, 3 cases were Plasmodium Falciparum and 5 cases showed mixed infection with Falciparum and Vivax. Sensitivity, specificity, Positive Predictive Value and Negative Predictive value were 100%, 95.63%, 91.24% and 100% respectively.

Conclusions: Our evaluation shows that malaria antigen card test is a simple, reliable and rapid test for the diagnosis as well for speciation of the malaria parasite. The test can be a promising alternative to microscopy in urban and rural areas of our country.

Keywords: Malaria diagnosis, Rapid Diagnostic test, Diagnostic accuracy