DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i02.057

Pages: 821-824

The objective of the study was to compare OptiMAL test method with conventional microscopy for the detection of Malaria. 150 patients below the age of 15 years who were clinically suspected to be suffering from Malaria from July’14 - Feb’15 were studied. OptiMAL test and Light microscopic examination of thick and thin blood films were done and the results compared. Out of 150 suspected cases of malaria 80 patients (46 falc, 34 viv) were positive with microscopy while only 76 patients (43 falc, 33 viv) were positive with OptiMAL. The sensitivity and specificity for Plasmodium falciparum was 93.47%, and 98.57%, and for Plasmodium vivax 97.05% and 100%. OptiMal test is simple, effective and rapid diagnostic test which can be used with or without traditional blood film examination for detection of both P. vivax and P. falciparum.