Research Article
Kweka EJ and Mazigo HD
Abstract
Malaria cases management and treatment need to have accurate and reliable diagnostic tools. Thus the present study evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of the test against expert microscopy in febrile under-five children in Sengerema District, north-western Tanzania. A finger prick blood sample was obtained from each child, and thin and thick blood smears were prepared, stained with 10% Giemsa and examined under the light microscope and ClearView Malaria Dual rapid test. A total of 232 children were included in the study. Of these, 29 (12.50%, 95%CI, 8.20-16.8) children had a positive malaria microscopy and 44 (18.97%, 95%CI, 13.9-23.9) were positive in the rapid diagnostic test. The sensitivity of the rapid diagnostic test increased with increasing P. falciparum geometric mean parasite density from 46.43% (95%CI, 39.72-53.1) at <200 parasites/μL to 93.75% (95%CI, 90.50-97.01) at ≥ 200 parasites/μL. ClearView Malaria Dual rapid test is highly specific and its sensitivity increases with increase in parasite density. The test could be used in holoendemic areas but its use in areas with low malaria transmission needs further evaluation.