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Original ArticleOpen Access
Comparison of the OptiMALเน€เธ˜ยŽ Rapid Test with Routine Microscopic Examination of Giemsa-Stained Thick Blood Film for Diagnosis of Malaria
Congpuong K 
,
Bualombai P ,
Jitchamroen S ,
Konchom S
,
Bualombai P ,
Jitchamroen S ,
Konchom S PONGWIT BUALOMBAI, Ph.D.*,
SUPA WADEE KONCHOM, M.Sc. *
The OptiMALเธŽ is a rapid immunodiagnostic test developed by Flow Inc., Portland,
Oreg. for diagnosis and differentiation of
P. falciparum
and non
P. falciparum
malaria infection.
It has been based on detection of circulating parasite lactate dehydrogenase enzyme (pLDH),
produced by live Plasmodium parasites. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy
of the OptiMALเธŽ test with routine microscopic examination of Giemsa-Stained Thick Blood
Film (routine GS-TBF) for the diagnosis of malaria at a local malaria clinic in a hyperendemic
area of Thailand by using a standard GS-TBF (standard GS-TBF) as reference. One hundred and
seventy five patients attending the clinic were recruited; 50, 42 and 83 were falciparum malaria,
vivax malaria and non-malaria patients, respectively.
Compared with the reference, the OptiMALเธŽ test had sensitivities of 92 per cent and
97.6 per cent, whereas, the routine GS-TBF had sensitivities of 81.3 per cent and 81 per cent
for the detection of
P. falciparum
and
P. vivax,
respectively. Both tests showed no false positive
resulting in 100 per cent specificities. However, the OptiMALเธŽ test was able to detect only 20
per cent of infection with less than 200 parasitaemia /microlitre. It was also shown in our
study that the OptiMALเธŽ test was advantageous in follow-up of the treatment outcome. No false
positive occurred among 40 follow-up cases.
The OptiMALเธŽ test detected malaria infection more accurately than the routine GS-TBF
(p
<
0.05) and was simple, easy to perform and rapid.
It
is an alternative tool for the diagnosis
of malaria in a hyperendemic area where experienced microscopists are not available.
Key word : Malaria, OptiMALเธŽ, Rapid Diagnosis
SUPA WADEE KONCHOM, M.Sc. *
The OptiMALเธŽ is a rapid immunodiagnostic test developed by Flow Inc., Portland,
Oreg. for diagnosis and differentiation of
P. falciparum
and non
P. falciparum
malaria infection.
It has been based on detection of circulating parasite lactate dehydrogenase enzyme (pLDH),
produced by live Plasmodium parasites. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy
of the OptiMALเธŽ test with routine microscopic examination of Giemsa-Stained Thick Blood
Film (routine GS-TBF) for the diagnosis of malaria at a local malaria clinic in a hyperendemic
area of Thailand by using a standard GS-TBF (standard GS-TBF) as reference. One hundred and
seventy five patients attending the clinic were recruited; 50, 42 and 83 were falciparum malaria,
vivax malaria and non-malaria patients, respectively.
Compared with the reference, the OptiMALเธŽ test had sensitivities of 92 per cent and
97.6 per cent, whereas, the routine GS-TBF had sensitivities of 81.3 per cent and 81 per cent
for the detection of
P. falciparum
and
P. vivax,
respectively. Both tests showed no false positive
resulting in 100 per cent specificities. However, the OptiMALเธŽ test was able to detect only 20
per cent of infection with less than 200 parasitaemia /microlitre. It was also shown in our
study that the OptiMALเธŽ test was advantageous in follow-up of the treatment outcome. No false
positive occurred among 40 follow-up cases.
The OptiMALเธŽ test detected malaria infection more accurately than the routine GS-TBF
(p
<
0.05) and was simple, easy to perform and rapid.
It
is an alternative tool for the diagnosis
of malaria in a hyperendemic area where experienced microscopists are not available.
Key word : Malaria, OptiMALเธŽ, Rapid Diagnosis
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