Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for point-of-care detection of asymptomatic low-density malaria parasite carriers in Zanzibar

Background: Asymptomatic, low parasite density malaria infections are difficult to detect with currently available point-of-care diagnostics. This study piloted a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) kit for field-friendly, high-throughput detection of asymptomatic malaria infections during mass screening and treatment (MSAT) in Zanzibar, a malaria pre-elimination setting. Methods: Screening took place in three known hotspot areas prior to the short rains in November. Finger-prick blood was taken for screening by rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and LAMP and collected on filter paper for subsequent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses. LAMP results were compared to RDT and to PCR using McNemar's test. Results: Approximately 1,000 people were screened. RDT detected ten infections (1.0% (95% CI 0.3-1.6)) whilst both LAMP and PCR detected 18 (1.8% (95% CI 0.9-2.6)) infections. However, PCR identified three infections that LAMP did not detect and vice versa. LAMP testing was easy to scale-up in field conditions requiring minimal training and equipment, with results ready one to three hours after screening. Conclusions: Despite lower than expected prevalence, LAMP detected a higher number of infections than the currently used diagnostic, RDT. LAMP is a field-friendly, sensitive diagnostic test that could be useful for MSAT malaria campaigns which require quick results to enable prompt treatment.

Aydin-Schmidt, BeritKarolinska Institutet (author)
Gonzalez, Iveth J. (author)
Bell, David (author)
Edlund, ElinKarolinska Institutet (author)
Nassor, Majda H. (author)
Msellem, Mwinyi (author)
Ali, AbdullahKarolinska Institutet (author)
Abass, Ali K. (author)
Mårtensson, AndreasUppsala universitet,Centrum för klinisk forskning i Sörmland (CKFD)(Swepub:uu)andma331 (author)
Bjorkman, Anders (author)
Karolinska InstitutetCentrum för klinisk forskning i Sörmland (CKFD) (creator_code:org_t)

By the author/editor: Cook, Jackie; Aydin-Schmidt, B ...; Gonzalez, Iveth ...; Bell, David; Edlund, Elin; Nassor, Majda H.; show more...; Msellem, Mwinyi; Ali, Abdullah; Abass, Ali K.; Mårtensson, Andr ...; Bjorkman, Anders; show less...

About the subject

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES: MEDICAL AND HEAL ...; and Clinical Medicin ...; and Other Clinical M ...

Kungliga biblioteket hanterar dina personuppgifter i enlighet med EU:s dataskyddsförordning (2018), GDPR. Läs mer om hur det funkar här.
Så här hanterar KB dina uppgifter vid användning av denna tjänst.