Performance Evaluation of Malaria Plus RDTs

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Since their introduction in the late 90's, rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have dramatically improved our ability to control malaria, but proved insufficient to support elimination efforts because of their limited sensitivity, especially for P. vivax. In addition, the spread of P. falciparum parasites lacking hrp2 gene jeopardizes the long-term use of P. falciparum-specific HRP2-based RDTs. An existing partnership between Standard Diagnostics (SD), FIND, PATH, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) is addressing these limitations by developing two novel malaria RDTs with an analytical sensitivity ten times higher than the currently available malaria RDTs: a P. falciparum-specific test targeting both the HRP2 and PfLDH antigens (Pf Plus), and a P. falciparum/P. vivax combo test additionally targeting the PvLDH antigen (Pf/Pv Plus). These new combo tests with improved sensitivity may become promising diagnostic tools for the detection of malaria, especially in settings where current tests prove to be insufficient due to hrp2 deletion or high burden of P. vivax malaria. In this study, the investigators will perform a prospective evaluation of Pf Plus and Pf/Pv Plus tests in malaria-endemic countries to assess their clinical performance for detection of malaria in their intended-use settings.

Official Title
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Clinical Performance Evaluation of Malaria Pf Plus RDT and Malaria Pf/Pv Plus RDT for the Detection of Plasmodium Infections in Patients With Symptoms Suggestive of Malaria

Conditions
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Malaria

Intervention / Treatment
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* Diagnostic Test: Abbott SD Bioline Malaria Pf Plus (05FK150) and Abbott SD Bioline Malaria Pf/Pv Plus (05FK160))


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Presenting at the study site with fever (axillary temperature ≥37.5°C) or a history of fever during the preceding 72 hours period Presence of symptoms and signs other than fever suggestive of malaria Aged 5 years or older Freely agreeing to participate by signing an informed consent form (adults aged 18 and older and parent/legal guardian of a child) and providing assent (children aged 13-17) Willing to provide finger prick blood sample at enrolment Exclusion Criteria: Presence of symptoms and signs of severe disease and/or central nervous system infections, as defined by WHO guidelines

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 5 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Diagnostic Test: Abbott SD Bioline Malaria Pf Plus (05FK150) and Abbott SD Bioline Malaria Pf/Pv Plus (05FK160))|Qualitative in vitro tests for the detection of Plasmodium antigens|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Estimates of clinical performance characteristics of Pf Plus | Estimates of clinical performance characteristics with 95% confidence intervals (sensitivity, specificity, NPV, PPV, and DOR) of Pf Plus using the primary reference test (qPCR) as standard of truth for the detection of malaria in patients with symptoms suggestive of malaria | Enrolment | 
| Estimates of clinical performance characteristics of Pf/Pv Plus | Estimates of clinical performance characteristics with 95% confidence intervals (sensitivity, specificity, NPV, PPV, and DOR) of Pf/Pv Plus using the primary reference test (qPCR) as standard of truth for the detection of malaria in patients with symptoms suggestive of malaria | Enrolment |