Iftekhar Ahmed, Muhammad Masroor, Rana Qamar, Muhammad Saleh Channa, Khalid Imran, Abdul Sattar, Masood Hameed Khan.
Evaluation of Immunochoromatography (ICT) test versus microscopy for the diagnosis of Falciparum Malaria.
Med Channel Jan ;13(1):28-31.

OBJECTIVE: To determine sensitivity of ICT-MP/P.f test and will ICT-MP/P. test if used will be an aid for quick diagnosis of falciparum malaria. DESIGN: Prospective case series PLACE: Civil Hospital Karachi SAMPLE SIZE: Fifty (50) patients DURATION: From August 2000 to March 2001. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 50 patients above 12 years age either sex, who were admitted in different units (wards) of Civil Hospital Karachi with the diagnosis offalciparum malaria. Established on history, clinical examination and blood smear positive for asexual form of Plasmodium falciparum. Patients MP slide positive for other species e.g. vivax, ovale, malariae and those febrile MP positive patients having taken antimalarial drugs were excluded from the study. All patients whose MP slide was positive for falciparum malaria (asexual form) went through ICT-MP/Pftest, before starting antimalarial drugs. Data was collected on the proforma designed for the purpose. RESULTS: All patients have plasmodium falciparum in their peripheral blood smears. Immunochromatographic technique test (ICT-MP/Pf) was positive in 49 (98%) patients. CONCLUSION: In conclusion early diagnosis and specific therapy is the only life saving measure in these patients and ICT-MP/P.f immunodiagbnistic test for diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum malaria is easy, rapid and sensitive test which provide useful aid for diagnosis offalciparum malaria specially where microscopic facility or experienced microscopist is not available.

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