MALARIA RAPID DIAGNOSTIC TEST (RDTs)
Rapid Diagnostic Test is a rapid, qualitative and differential test
for the detection of histidine rich protein II ( HRP-II) antigen of
plasmodium falciparum and common plasmodium Lactate
Dehydrogenase (pLDH) of plasmodium species in human whole
blood. RDTs assist in the diagnosis of malaria by detecting evidence
of malaria parasites (antigens) in human blood.
2.0MATARIALS REQUIRED
1.Human blood
2. Cotton wool
3.Syringe
4. Specimen container (Blood Tube)
5.Assay diluents
6. Micropipette
7. Rapid test cassette ( See figure 1.0 below)
3.0 PROCEDURE
3.1 Specimen Collection
Get the blood sample from human as specimen by using needle and
syringe then put the blood sample in the blood tube and shake it to
mix the blood.
Set the micropipette to 5micro litres then pipette 5 micro litre of
blood from the blood tube.
3.2 Stages of the Test
1. Add specimen ( blood drop) : dispense 5ul of whole blood in to
the round specimen well on rapid test cassette; see figure 1.0
2. Add assay diluents : dispense 4 drops of assay diluents into the
square assay diluents well on the rapid test cassette ; see figure
1.0
3. Wait for 15- 30 minutes to get the result by allowing the blood
to blood spread on the cassette.
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Figure1.0 Rapid Test Cassette
4.0 RESULT INTER PRETATION
1. Presence of coloured band ( C-line ) on the cassette indicate
negative. (see figure 2.0)
Figure 2.0 One coloured band ( C control line)
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2. Presence of two (2) coloured band on C and P.F indicate
positive which confirmed malaria P.F ( See figure 3.0)
Figure 3.0 Two coloured bands (P.F test line /C control line)
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Presence of two (2) coloured band on C and Pan test line
indicate malaria Pan positive (see figure 4)
Figure 4.0 Two coloured bands ( Pan test line/ C control line)
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4. Presence of three (3) coloured band on the cassette i.e (C-line, Pan
test line and P.f test line) indicate malaria mixed infection. See figure
5.0 below.
Figure 5.0 three coloured bands ( P.F and Pan test line/ C-control line)
5.0ADVANTAGE/BENEFIT RDTs
1. Detect HRP-II Ag specific to P.Falciparum and pLDH specific
to plasmodium species.
2. Distinguish the infection between p. Falciparum and others
3. Suitable in the prevalence region of p.falciparum and other
plasmodium species
4. Suitable in areas with limited access to good microscopic
services
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6.0 CONCLUSION
RDTs permit a reliable detection of malaria infection particularly in
remote areas with limited access to good quality microscopy service.
This method involved use of malaria test kits such as rapid test
cassette, assay diluents solution to confirm the presence of malaria
antigen in the human blood . the result of the test on rapid test kit
indicated in the figure 6.0 below
Figure 6.0
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