Performance Evaluation of Care Starttm Malaria Pf/Pv Combo Test at Arbaminch General Hospital and Health Center, Gamo Gofa Zone, South Ethiopia
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Date
2016-10
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Malaria remains endemic in 106 countries while parasite-based diagnosis
increasing. Most suspected cases of malaria still not properly confirmed, resulting in over-use of
anti-malarial drugs and poor disease monitoring. Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are
method. But, since it has still drawback in correctly identifying malaria species, further studies
should be carried out to use the CareStartTM Malaria Pf/Pv Combo Test instead of microscopy
for the diagnosis of malaria
alternative diagnostic methods which have enabled reliable biological diagnostic testing in all
situations where previously only clinical diagnosis was available. The diagnostic accuracy of
RDTs can vary significantly across different geographical regions. This variable quality of
malaria RDTs, and consequently their diagnostic performance, have made it difficult for policy
makers to determine which tests are the most suitable.
Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of CareStart TM
Malaria Pf/Pv Combo RDT by comparing with light microscope for malaria diagnosis in
Arbaminch Hospital and Health center, Southern Ethiopia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design was conducted from October 1, 2015 up to October 15,
2016. A total of 160 patients were included in the study. Socio demographic data collection was
done using structured questionnaire. Finger prick blood sample was obtained from those study
subjects for Care StartTM Malaria Pf/Pv combo test, thin and thick film was prepared
immediately for microscopic examination. Collected data from this study was entered using Epi
Data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 and Microsoft Excel 2013. Sensitivity,
specificity, PPV and NPV was determined in comparison with the gold standard Microscopy
method.
Result: In this study, it was found that Care start
TM
combo test had an overall sensitivity,
specificity, PPV, and NPV of 97.44%, 93.67%, 93.83%, and 97.37% respectively, with Kappa
value of 0.877 to detect the presence or absence of malaria. Sensitivity and specificity of the kit
for p. falciparum detection was 63.27 % and 94.3% and for p. vivax detection was 86.96 % and
95.62 % respectively, which is below WHO standard. Agreement between Light microscopy and
Care Start
TM
malaria RDT for specific identification of malaria species is moderate with kappa
value of 0.568. It showed better performance at Arbaminch health center than Arbaminch
Hospital with sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of 96.07%, 80%, 92.45% and 88.88%
respectively.
Conclusion and recommendations: The kit evaluated has good overall performance in
detection of malaria cases which is almost comparable with the Gold standard microscopy
Description
Keywords
Health Center, Malaria Pf/Pv