Laboratory Diagnostic Approaches in Plasmodium falciparum Malaria

Falciparum infection is an important cause of mortality and morbidity associated with malaria. Early diagnosis and treatment is vital. Microscopic examination of blood smear is the standard method for malaria diagnosis. The method is easily available and has low cost but its reliability is questionable at low level of parasitaemia. Devices for rapid diagnosis of malaria emerged to meet the need as reliable diagnostic adjunct to microscopy in clinical settings. ParaSight-F test and QBC assay are such diagnostic methods.QBC assay involves direct observation of centrifuged blood in capillary tube, stained by acridine orange.ParaSight-F test is antigen detection in dipstick format in which a monoclonal antibody captures a specific antigen of Plasmodium falciparum (PfHRP-II, present in the parasite throughout the erythrocytic cycle) if antigen is present, a positive result is indicated by a second anti-HRP-2 antibody labeled with coloured marker, which produces visible line on dipstick.