Displaying publications 81 - 100 of 124 in total

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  1. Foster D, Cox-Singh J, Mohamad DS, Krishna S, Chin PP, Singh B
    Malar J, 2014;13:60.
    PMID: 24548805 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-60
    Plasmodium knowlesi, a malaria parasite of Southeast Asian macaques, infects humans and can cause fatal malaria. It is difficult to diagnose by microscopy because of morphological similarity to Plasmodium malariae. Nested PCR assay is the most accurate method to distinguish P. knowlesi from other Plasmodium species but is not cost effective in resource-poor settings. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are recommended for settings where malaria is prevalent. In this study, the effectiveness of three RDTs in detecting P. knowlesi from fresh and frozen patient blood samples was evaluated.
    Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods*
  2. Jahanshahi P, Zalnezhad E, Sekaran SD, Adikan FR
    Sci Rep, 2014 Jan 24;4:3851.
    PMID: 24458089 DOI: 10.1038/srep03851
    Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is a medical diagnosis technique with high sensitivity and specificity. In this research, a new method based on SPR is proposed for rapid, 10-minute detection of the anti-dengue virus in human serum samples. This novel technique, known as rapid immunoglobulin M (IgM)-based dengue diagnostic test, can be utilized quickly and easily at the point of care. Four dengue virus serotypes were used as ligands on a biochip. According to the results, a serum volume of only 1 μl from a dengue patient (as a minimized volume) is required to indicate SPR angle variation to determine the ratio of each dengue serotype in samples with 83-93% sensitivity and 100% specificity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods*
  3. Al-Darraji HA, Abd Razak H, Ng KP, Altice FL, Kamarulzaman A
    PLoS One, 2013;8(9):e73717.
    PMID: 24040038 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073717
    Delays in tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis, particularly in prisons, is associated with detrimental outcomes. The new GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay (Xpert) offers accurate and rapid diagnosis of active TB, but its performance in improving case detection in high-transmission congregate settings has yet to be evaluated. We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of a single Xpert assay in an intensified case finding survey among HIV-infected prisoners in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods*
  4. Moghadam ZK, Ghaffarifar F, Khalilpour A, Abdul Aziz F, Saadatnia G, Noordin R
    Clin. Vaccine Immunol., 2013 Apr;20(4):501-5.
    PMID: 23365208 DOI: 10.1128/CVI.00019-13
    Hydatidosis is a public health problem in many parts of the world, and improvement in diagnosis of the disease is still being pursued. Protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus were isolated from hydatid cysts collected from naturally infected sheep slaughtered in abattoirs in Iran. Sonicated extract of protoscolex was subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis. Primary antibodies were from serum samples from 130 hydatidosis patients, 38 individuals infected with other parasitic infections, and 30 healthy people, whereas peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated anti-human IgG and IgG4 were used as secondary antibodies. The recombinant form of the identified protein was produced and tested for its sensitivity and specificity for the detection of human hydatidosis. An antigenic band of ∼60 kDa was found to be sensitive (82%) and specific (100%) for the detection of hydatidosis when probed with anti-human IgG4-HRP, while the sensitivity and specificity were 33 and 100%, respectively, with anti-human IgG-HRP. By mass spectrometry, the band was identified as protoscolex tegument paramyosin. The sensitivity and specificity of full-length paramyosin-recombinant protein in IgG4 blots were found to be 86 and 98%, respectively. In conclusion, IgG4 detection of Echinococcus granulosus paramyosin was found to be useful for the diagnosis of human hydatidosis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods*
  5. Alareqi LM, Mahdy MA, Lau YL, Fong MY, Abdul-Ghani R, Ali AA, et al.
    Malar J, 2016 Jan 28;15:49.
    PMID: 26821911 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1103-2
    Malaria is a public health threat in Yemen, with 149,451 cases being reported in 2013. Of these, Plasmodium falciparum represents 99%. Prompt diagnosis by light microscopy (LM) and rapid diagnostic tests (RTDs) is a key element in the national strategy of malaria control. The heterogeneous epidemiology of malaria in the country necessitates the field evaluation of the current diagnostic strategies, especially RDTs. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate LM and an RDT, combining both P. falciparum histidine-rich protein-2 (PfHRP-2) and Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH), for falciparum malaria diagnosis and survey in a malaria-endemic area during the transmission season against nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as the reference method.
    Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods*
  6. Wong WCW, Lo YR, Jiang S, Peng M, Zhu S, Kidd MR, et al.
    Fam Pract, 2018 12 12;35(6):731-737.
    PMID: 29741661 DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmy032
    Objective: The study aimed to decentralize hepatitis testing and management services to primary care in China.

    Methods: A nationwide representative provider survey amongst community health centres (CHCs) using randomized stratified sampling methods was conducted between September and December 2015. One hundred and eighty CHCs and frontline primary care practitioners from 20 cities across three administrative regions of Western, Central and Eastern China were invited to participate.

    Results: One hundred and forty-nine clinicians-in-charge (79%), 1734 doctors and 1846 nurses participated (86%). Majority of CHCs (80%, 95% CI: 74-87) offered hepatitis B testing, but just over half (55%, 95% CI: 46-65) offered hepatitis C testing. The majority of doctors (87%) and nurses (85%) felt that there were benefits for providing hepatitis testing at CHCs. The major barriers for not offering hepatitis testing were lack of training (54%) and financial support (23%). Multivariate analysis showed that the major determinants for CHCs to offer hepatitis B and C testing were the number of nurses (AOR 1.1) and written policies for hepatitis B diagnosis (AOR 12.7-27.1), and for hepatitis B the availability of reproductive health service.

    Conclusions: Primary care providers in China could play a pivotal role in screening, diagnosing and treating millions of people with chronic hepatitis B and C in China.

    Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods*
  7. Ogunfowokan O, Ogunfowokan BA, Nwajei AI
    Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med, 2020 Jun 17;12(1):e1-e8.
    PMID: 32634015 DOI: 10.4102/phcfm.v12i1.2212
    BACKGROUND: Malaria diagnosis using microscopy is currently the gold standard. However, malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) were developed to simplify the diagnosis in regions without access to functional microscopy.

    AIM: The objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of mRDT CareStatTM with microscopy.

    SETTING: This study was conducted in the paediatric primary care clinic of the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Nigeria.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional study for diagnostic accuracy was conducted from May 2016 to October 2016. Ninety-eight participants were involved to obtain a precision of 5%, sensitivity of mRDT CareStatTM of 95% from published work and 95% level of confidence after adjusting for 20% non-response rate or missing data. Consecutive participants were tested using both microscopy and mRDT. The results were analysed using EPI Info Version 7.

    RESULTS: A total of 98 children aged 3-59 months were enrolled. Malaria prevalence was found to be 53% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 46% - 60%), whilst sensitivity and specificity were 29% (95% CI = 20% - 38%) and 89% (95% CI = 83% - 95%), respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 75% (95% CI = 66.4% - 83.6%) and 53% (95% CI = 46% - 60%), respectively.

    CONCLUSION: Agreement between malaria parasitaemia using microscopy and mRDT positivity increased with increase in the parasite density. The mRDT might be negative when malaria parasite density using microscopy is low.

    Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods*
  8. Banneheke H, Fernandopulle R, Gunasekara U, Barua A, Fernando N, Wickremasinghe R
    Trop Biomed, 2015 Jun;32(2):192-7.
    PMID: 26691246
    Wet mount microscopy is the most commonly used diagnostic method for trichomoniasis in clinical diagnostic services all over the world including Sri Lanka due to its availability, simplicity and is relatively inexpensive. However, Trichomonas culture and PCR are the gold standard tests. Unfortunately, neither the culture nor PCR is available for the diagnosis of trichomoniasis in Sri Lanka. Thus, it is important to validate the wet mount microscopy as it is the only available diagnostic test and has not been validated to date in Sri Lanka. The objective was to evaluate the validity and reliability of wet mount microscopy against gold standard Trichomonas culture among clinic based population of reproductive age group women in Western province, Sri Lanka. Women attending hospital and institutional based clinics were enrolled. They were interviewed and high vaginal swabs were taken for laboratory diagnosis by culture and wet mount microscopy. There were 601 participants in the age group of 15-45 years. Wet mount microscopy showed 68% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive (PPV) and 98% negative predictive values (NPV) (P=0.001, kappa=0.803) respectively against the gold standard culture. The area under the ROC curve was 0.840. Sensitivity of wet mount microscopy is low. However it has high validity and reliability as a specific diagnostic test for trichomoniasis. If it is to be used among women of reproductive age group in Western province, Sri Lanka, a culture method could be adopted as a second test to confirm the negative wet mount for symptomatic patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods*
  9. Tan ZN, Wong WK, Noordin R, Zeehaida M, Olivos GA, Lim BH
    Trop Biomed, 2013 Jun;30(2):250-6.
    PMID: 23959490 MyJurnal
    Entamoeba histolytica causes amoebic diarrhoea, colitis and liver abscess (ALA). Diagnosis of ALA is difficult, as most patients do not have simultaneous intestinal amoebic infection. At Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), diagnosis of ALA relies on a combination of clinical findings, ultrasound examination of the liver and serodiagnosis using a commercial kit. In this study, two in-house indirect ELISAs were developed and evaluated. One of the in-house assays utilises E. histolytica crude soluble antigen (CSA) to detect serum IgG specific to the parasite whereas the other uses E. histolytica ether extract antigen (EEA). Preparation of CSA requires a sonicator to lyse the amoeba whereas EEA was prepared by chemically solubilizing the trophozoites. Based on the cut-off value of mean optical density + 3SD, CSA-ELISA showed 100% (24/24) sensitivity and 93.33% (210/225) specificity; while EEA-ELISA showed 91.67% (22/24) sensitivity and 95.11% (214/225) specificity. In conclusion, both the in-house indirect ELISAs were found to be efficacious for diagnosis of ALA; and the EEA is easier to prepare than the commonly used CSA.
    Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods*
  10. Beshir KB, Grignard L, Hajissa K, Mohammed A, Nurhussein AM, Ishengoma DS, et al.
    Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2020 08;103(2):558-560.
    PMID: 32553046 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0467
    Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) play a critical role in malaria diagnosis and control. The emergence of Plasmodium falciparum parasites that can evade detection by RDTs threatens control and elimination efforts. These parasites lack or have altered genes encoding histidine-rich proteins (HRPs) 2 and 3, the antigens recognized by HRP2-based RDTs. Surveillance of such parasites is dependent on identifying false-negative RDT results among suspected malaria cases, a task made more challenging during the current pandemic because of the overlap of symptoms between malaria and COVID-19, particularly in areas of low malaria transmission. Here, we share our perspective on the emergence of P. falciparum parasites lacking HRP2 and HRP3, and the surveillance needed to identify them amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods*
  11. Rozanova J, Zeziulin O, Rich KM, Altice FL, Kiriazova T, Zaviryukha I, et al.
    PLoS One, 2021;16(9):e0256627.
    PMID: 34591848 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256627
    INTRODUCTION: The Eastern Europe and Central Asian (EECA) region has the highest increase in HIV incidence and mortality globally, with suboptimal HIV treatment and prevention. All EECA countries (except Russia) are low and middle-income (LMIC). While LMIC are home to 80% of all older people living with HIV (OPWH), defined as ≥50 years, extant literature observed that newly diagnosed OPWH represent the lowest proportion in EECA relative to all other global regions. We examined HIV diagnoses in OPWH in Ukraine, a country emblematic of the EECA region.

    METHODS: We analysed incident HIV diagnoses from 2015-2018 and mortality trends from 2016-2018 for three age groups: 1) 15-24 years; 2) 25-49 years; and 3) ≥50 years. AIDS was defined as CD4<200cells/mL. Mortality was defined as deaths per 1000 patients newly diagnosed with HIV within the same calendar year. Mortality rates were calculated for 2016, 2017, and 2018, compared to age-matched general population rates, and all-cause standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated.

    RESULTS: From 2015-2018, the proportion of OPWH annually diagnosed with HIV increased from 11.2% to 14.9% (p<0.01). At the time of diagnosis, OPWH were also significantly (p<0.01) more likely to have AIDS (43.8%) than those aged 25-49 years (29.5%) and 15-24 years (13.3%). Newly diagnosed OPWH had the same-year mortality ranging from 3 to 8 times higher than age-matched groups in the Ukrainian general population.

    CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a reassessment of HIV testing, prevention and treatment strategies in Ukraine is needed to bring OPWH into focus. OPWH are more likely to present with late-stage HIV and have higher mortality rates. Re-designing testing practices is especially crucial since OPWH are absent from targeted testing programs and are increasingly diagnosed as they present with AIDS-defining symptoms. New strategies for linkage and treatment programs should reflect the distinct needs of this target population.

    Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine*
  12. Thriemer K, Ley B, Bobogare A, Dysoley L, Alam MS, Pasaribu AP, et al.
    Malar J, 2017 04 05;16(1):141.
    PMID: 28381261 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-1784-1
    The delivery of safe and effective radical cure for Plasmodium vivax is one of the greatest challenges for achieving malaria elimination from the Asia-Pacific by 2030. During the annual meeting of the Asia Pacific Malaria Elimination Network Vivax Working Group in October 2016, a round table discussion was held to discuss the programmatic issues hindering the widespread use of primaquine (PQ) radical cure. Participants included 73 representatives from 16 partner countries and 33 institutional partners and other research institutes. In this meeting report, the key discussion points are presented and grouped into five themes: (i) current barriers for glucose-6-phosphate deficiency (G6PD) testing prior to PQ radical cure, (ii) necessary properties of G6PD tests for wide scale deployment, (iii) the promotion of G6PD testing, (iv) improving adherence to PQ regimens and (v) the challenges for future tafenoquine (TQ) roll out. Robust point of care (PoC) G6PD tests are needed, which are suitable and cost-effective for clinical settings with limited infrastructure. An affordable and competitive test price is needed, accompanied by sustainable funding for the product with appropriate training of healthcare staff, and robust quality control and assurance processes. In the absence of quantitative PoC G6PD tests, G6PD status can be gauged with qualitative diagnostics, however none of the available tests is currently sensitive enough to guide TQ treatment. TQ introduction will require overcoming additional challenges including the management of severely and intermediately G6PD deficient individuals. Robust strategies are needed to ensure that effective treatment practices can be deployed widely, and these should ensure that the caveats are outweighed by  the benefits of radical cure for both the patients and the community. Widespread access to quality controlled G6PD testing will be critical.
    Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/statistics & numerical data
  13. Cho SJ, Lee J, Lee HJ, Jo HY, Sinniah M, Kim HY, et al.
    Int J Biol Sci, 2016;12(7):824-35.
    PMID: 27313496 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.14408
    Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) can detect anti-malaria antibodies in human blood. As they can detect parasite infection at the low parasite density, they are useful in endemic areas where light infection and/or re-infection of parasites are common. Thus, malaria antibody tests can be used for screening bloods in blood banks to prevent transfusion-transmitted malaria (TTM), an emerging problem in malaria endemic areas. However, only a few malaria antibody tests are available in the microwell-based assay format and these are not suitable for field application. A novel malaria antibody (Ab)-based RDT using a differential diagnostic marker for falciparum and vivax malaria was developed as a suitable high-throughput assay that is sensitive and practical for blood screening. The marker, merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1) was discovered by generation of a Plasmodium-specific network and the hierarchical organization of modularity in the network. Clinical evaluation revealed that the novel Malaria Pf/Pv Ab RDT shows improved sensitivity (98%) and specificity (99.7%) compared with the performance of a commercial kit, SD BioLine Malaria P.f/P.v (95.1% sensitivity and 99.1% specificity). The novel Malaria Pf/Pv Ab RDT has potential for use as a cost-effective blood-screening tool for malaria and in turn, reduces TTM risk in endemic areas.
    Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods*
  14. Ong EB, Ignatius J, Anthony AA, Aziah I, Ismail A, Lim TS
    Microbiol. Immunol., 2015 Jan;59(1):43-7.
    PMID: 25399538 DOI: 10.1111/1348-0421.12211
    The detection and measurement of different antibody isotypes in the serum provide valuable indicators of the different stages of typhoid infection. Here, the ability of S. Typhi recombinant hemolysin E (HlyE) to detect multi-isotype antibody responses in sera of patients with typhoid and paratyphoid A was investigated using an indirect antibody immunoassay. Nanogram amounts of HlyE were found to be sufficient for detection of IgG and IgA isotypes and, in a study of individuals' sera (n = 100), the immunoassay was able to distinguish between typhoid and non-typhoid sera. The overall sensitivity, specificity and efficiency of the ELISA were 70% (39/56), 100% (44/44) and 83% respectively.
    Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods*
  15. Norwati D, Harmy MY, Norhayati MN, Amry AR
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2014;15(6):2901-4.
    PMID: 24761922
    The incidence of colorectal cancer has been increasing in many Asian countries including Malaysia during the past few decades. A physician recommendation has been shown to be a major factor that motivates patients to undergo screening. The present study objectives were to describe the practice of colorectal cancer screening by primary care providers in Malaysia and to determine the barriers for not following recommendations. In this cross sectional study involving 132 primary care providers from 44 Primary Care clinics in West Malaysia, self-administered questionnaires which consisted of demographic data, qualification, background on the primary care clinic, practices on colorectal cancer screening and barriers to colorectal cancer screening were distributed. A total of 116 primary care providers responded making a response rate of 87.9%. About 21% recommended faecal occult blood test (FOBT) in more than 50% of their patients who were eligible. The most common barrier was "unavailability of the test". The two most common patient factors are "patient in a hurry" and "poor patient awareness". This study indicates that colorectal cancer preventive activities among primary care providers are still poor in Malaysia. This may be related to the low availability of the test in the primary care setting and poor awareness and understanding of the importance of colorectal cancer screening among patients. More awareness programmes are required for the public. In addition, primary care providers should be kept abreast with the latest recommendations and policy makers need to improve colorectal cancer screening services in health clinics.
    Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/statistics & numerical data*
  16. Bulgiba AM
    Prev Med, 2005 Jun;40(6):696-701.
    PMID: 15850867
    The objective of this study is to look at how well patient history and examination findings can be used in screening for angina.
    Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/standards*
  17. Lim PK, Yamasaki H, Mak JW, Wong SF, Chong CW, Yap IK, et al.
    Acta Trop, 2015 Aug;148:32-7.
    PMID: 25910623 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.04.011
    Human toxocariasis which is caused mainly by the larvae of Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, is a worldwide zoonotic disease that can be a potentially serious human infection. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using T. canis excretory-secretory (TES) antigens harvested from T. canis larvae is currently the serological test for confirming toxocariasis. An alternative to producing large amounts of Toxocara TES and improved diagnosis for toxocariasis is through the development of highly specific recombinant antigens such as the T. canis second stage larva excretory-secretory 30 kDa protein (recTES-30). The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a rapid diagnostic kit (RDT, named as iToxocara kit) in comparison to recTES-30 ELISA in Serendah Orang Asli village in Selangor, Malaysia. A total of 133 subjects were included in the study. The overall prevalence rates by ELISA and RDT were 29.3% and 33.1%, respectively, with more positive cases detected in males than females. However, no association was found between toxocariasis and gender or age. The percentage sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of RDT were 85.7%, 90.1%, 80% and 93.2%, respectively. The prevalence for toxocariasis in this population using both ELISA and RDT was 27.1% (36/133) and the K-concordance test suggested good agreement of the two tests with a Cohen's kappa of 0.722, P<0.01. In addition, the followed-up Spearman rank correlation showed a moderately high correlation at R=0.704 and P<0.01. In conclusion, the RDT kit was faster and easier to use than an ELISA and is useful for the laboratory diagnosis of hospitalized cases of toxocariasis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/standards*
  18. Chong YM, Tan XH, Hooi PS, Lee LM, Sam IC, Chan YF
    J Med Virol, 2019 08;91(8):1562-1565.
    PMID: 31032971 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25495
    Rapid diagnosis of influenza is important for early treatment and institution of control measures. In developing tropical countries such as Malaysia, influenza occurs all year round, but molecular assays and conventional techniques (such as immunofluorescence and culture) for diagnosis are not widely available. Rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) may be useful in this setting. A total of 552 fresh respiratory specimens were assessed from patients with respiratory symptoms at a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from November 2017 to March 2018. Two digital immunoassays (DIAs), STANDARD F Influenza A/B Fluorescence Immunoassay (STANDARD F) and Sofia Influenza A + B Fluorescence Immunoassay (Sofia) and one conventional RIDT (immunochromatographic assay), SD Bioline Influenza Ag A/B/A(H1N1) Pandemic rapid test kit (SD Bioline) were evaluated in comparison with a WHO-recommended reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Of the 552 samples, influenza A virus was detected in 47 (8.5%) and influenza B virus in 7 (1.3%). The digital immunoassays STANDARD F and Sofia had significantly higher overall sensitivity rates (71.7% and 70.6%, respectively) than the conventional RIDT SD Bioline and immunofluorescence/viral culture (55.8% and 52.8%, respectively). Sensitivity rates were higher for influenza A than influenza B, and specificity rates were uniformly high, ranging from 98% to 100%. Digital readout RIDTs can be used in tropical settings with year-round influenza if PCR is unavailable.
    Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods*
  19. Nuin NA, Tan AF, Lew YL, Piera KA, William T, Rajahram GS, et al.
    Malar J, 2020 Aug 27;19(1):306.
    PMID: 32854695 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-020-03379-2
    BACKGROUND: The monkey parasite Plasmodium knowlesi is an emerging public health issue in Southeast Asia. In Sabah, Malaysia, P. knowlesi is now the dominant cause of human malaria. Molecular detection methods for P. knowlesi are essential for accurate diagnosis and in monitoring progress towards malaria elimination of other Plasmodium species. However, recent commercially available PCR malaria kits have unpublished P. knowlesi gene targets or have not been evaluated against clinical samples.

    METHODS: Two real-time PCR methods currently used in Sabah for confirmatory malaria diagnosis and surveillance reporting were evaluated: the QuantiFast™ Multiplex PCR kit (Qiagen, Germany) targeting the P. knowlesi 18S SSU rRNA; and the abTES™ Malaria 5 qPCR II kit (AITbiotech, Singapore), with an undisclosed P. knowlesi gene target. Diagnostic accuracy was evaluated using 52 P. knowlesi, 25 Plasmodium vivax, 21 Plasmodium falciparum, and 10 Plasmodium malariae clinical isolates, and 26 malaria negative controls, and compared against a validated reference nested PCR assay. The limit of detection (LOD) for each PCR method and Plasmodium species was also evaluated.

    RESULTS: The sensitivity of the QuantiFast™ and abTES™ assays for detecting P. knowlesi was comparable at 98.1% (95% CI 89.7-100) and 100% (95% CI 93.2-100), respectively. Specificity of the QuantiFast™ and abTES™ for P. knowlesi was high at 98.8% (95% CI 93.4-100) for both assays. The QuantiFast™ assay demonstrated falsely-positive mixed Plasmodium species at low parasitaemias in both the primary and LOD analysis. Diagnostic accuracy of both PCR kits for detecting P. vivax, P. falciparum, and P. malariae was comparable to P. knowlesi. The abTES™ assay demonstrated a lower LOD for P. knowlesi of ≤ 0.125 parasites/µL compared to QuantiFast™ with a LOD of 20 parasites/µL. Hospital microscopy demonstrated a sensitivity of 78.8% (95% CI 65.3-88.9) and specificity of 80.4% (95% CI 67.6-89.8) compared to reference PCR for detecting P. knowlesi.

    CONCLUSION: The QuantiFast™ and abTES™ commercial PCR kits performed well for the accurate detection of P. knowlesi infections. Although the QuantiFast™ kit is cheaper, the abTES™ kit demonstrated a lower LOD, supporting its use as a second-line referral-laboratory diagnostic tool in Sabah, Malaysia.

    Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/statistics & numerical data*
  20. Sivanandy P, Zi Xien F, Woon Kit L, Tze Wei Y, Hui En K, Chia Lynn L
    J Infect Public Health, 2018 09 10;12(2):153-158.
    PMID: 30213468 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2018.08.005
    The H7N9 subtype of avian influenza is an enzootic and airborne virus which caused an influenza outbreak in China. Infected individuals mostly worked with poultry, suggesting H7N9 virus-infected poultry as the primary source of human infection. Significantly increased levels of proinflammatory mediators (chemokines, cytokines) during virus infection could hamper the immune system and aggravate the infection. Severe cases are marked by fulminant pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and encephalopathy. Left untreated, the condition may rapidly progress to multi-organ failure and death. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) is the gold standard diagnostic test for H7N9 avian influenza. Use of neurominidase inhibitor antivirals remain the main treatment. New antivirals are developed to counteract neurominidase inhibitor resistance H7N9 viral strains. Corticosteroid use in viral pneumonia may provoke mortality and longer viral shedding time. Subjects at high risk of contracting avian influenza H7N9 infection are recommended to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination.
    Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods*
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