Short communication: Comparison of the OptiMAL rapid test and microscopy for detection of malaria in pregnant women in Nigeria

Abstract

SummaryMalaria 1 during pregnancy causes anaemia in pregnant women and low birthweight in infants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the OptiMAL rapid malaria test in comparison with standard microscopy for malaria diagnosis in 268 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at the Jos University Teaching Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre-Gombe in Nigeria. Positive results by either method were confirmed using a polymerase chain reaction assay for malaria. Although the OptiMAL assay did not detect malaria in the blood of pregnant women with low levels of parasitaemia, it may be useful for the detection of placental malaria which predisposes to low birthweight infants.

Assessment of Knowledge, Interventional Practices for, and Impact of Malaria in Pregnancy among Parturient Women in a Nigerian Tertiary Healthcare Facility

“…However, varying rates of peripheral parasitaemia ranging from 7.5 % − 60 % had been reported in previous studies in different parts of Nigeria [11][12][13]. In addition, such wide variations had been observed in recent studies from other African countries, such as Kenya (ranging from 9.4 % to 20.1 %) [14,15]; and Cameroun (ranging from 15.9 % to 32.8 %) [16,17].…”

Intermittent Screening and Treatment versus Intermittent Preventive Treatment of Malaria in Pregnancy: A Randomised Controlled Non-Inferiority Trial

“…Few studies [21], [22], [23], [24] have reported good accuracy of RDTs used in the diagnoses of malaria in peripheral and placenta blood at delivery. However, studies of diagnostic accuracy in pregnant women attending antenatal clinics [25], [26], [27] are scarce and report a range of sentivities. In this study we found that the sensitivity and specificity of the OptiMAL test were 93.8% and 81% respectively compared to microscopy.…”

Diagnostic Accuracy of Two rK39 Antigen-Based Dipsticks and the Formol Gel Test for Rapid Diagnosis of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Northeastern Uganda

“…This poor sensitivity was most likely due to the high proportion (43%) of patients with low parasitemia (Ͻ200 parasites/mm 3 ). A low sensitivity of the Optimal test (DiaMed AG, Switzerland), using the same technology, has been previously reported in malaria patients with low parasitemia (15,21). It must be emphasized that malaria has a clear seasonal pattern in the study area and that our study took place during a low-transmission season.…”