COMPARISON OF MICROSCOPIC METHOD AND IMMUNO-CHROMATOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUE IN DETECTING PLASMODIUM SPECIES

Background and Objective: Light microscopy of thick and thin films is a cost effective gold standard for diagnosis of malaria yet it is time consuming and requires expertise. Immunochromatographic Techni-que (ICT) has been claimed an alternative to light microscopy in detecting Plasmodium species. This stu-dy was conducted to evaluate sensitivity and specificity of rapid malaria test in reference to light micro-scopy of the smears. Methods: This study was conducted out in Mansoorah Hospital Lahore between July and November 2015. Seventy patients with history suggestive of malaria were subjected to both tests i.e. light micro-scopy and Immunochromatographic Technique (ICT) malaria P.f./Pan Rapid Test Device for compari-son of two methods. Results: The blood film results indicated that 32 (45.71%) patients were infected with malaria and the rest 38 (54.28%) were malaria negative. Among the positive patients P.falciparum was detected in 10 cases (31.2%) and non-falciparum plasmodium species were found in rest of the 22 cases (68.75%). The ICT malaria P.f./Pan Test results showed that 30 (42.85%) of the patient samples were positive for malaria parasites and rest 40 (57.14%) were negative for malarial parasite. Infection with P. falcipa-rum accounted for 10 cases (33.34%) and non-falciparum plasmodium species cases accounted for rest of the 20 (66.67%) cases. Thus, ICT malaria showed 93.75% sensitivity and 95.00% specificity for dete-ction of malarial parasites. Conclusions: Immunochromatographic technique provides sensitive, specific, user – friendly and prac-tical alternative to slide microscopy for diagnosis of malaria without adding cost and effort.