Intérêt du test Paracheck Pf® pour le diagnostic de paludisme à Plasmodium falciparum

Diagnosis of malaria is established by thin and thick blood films, by qualified people. A study was performed on test Paracheck Pf®, compared with test Now Malaria®, based on the detection of a Plasmodium falciparum specific antigen, HRP-2. Were studied 88 patients (including 35 patients with a thin blood film positive with P. falciparum). The tests Paracheck Pf® and Now Malaria®, rapid and easy of use, show a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 95%. These tests remain positive during about one a month after a correct treatment, caused by the persistance of HRP-2 antigen. No false positive was detected with rhumatoid factor nor false negative. These rapid tests are very useful, to make a rapid diagnosis, but the thin blood film is always necessary to specify the parasitaemia. The Paracheck Pf® detects only P. falciparum, but it is about ten times cheaper than Now-Malaria®. So it is very useful in tropical areas.