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. 1 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) 2 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) 3 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) 3 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 4 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 5