Research: Performance and clinical usefulness of the Optimal-IT® test in the treatment of confirmed malaria cases in rural areas in Côte d’Ivoire

Author(s):

Yapo T. Aba, Emmanuel Bissagnené, Ouffoué Kra, Serge B. Assi, Raoul Moh, Pulchérie Goly, Nogbou Ello, Alain Kassi, Bessy R. Yao, Franklin Abouo, Eboi Ehui

Reference:

MWJ2014, 5, 12

Access:

Open Access 2.0

Article type:

Research

Abstract:

This study aimed at determining the performances of the Optimal-IT® test in the strategy for the exclusive treatment of uncomplicated malaria in rural areas in the forest region of San Pedro, Côte d’Ivoire. Patients exhibiting clinical signs of uncomplicated malaria who gave their consent benefited from thick blood film (TBF), blood smear (BS) and Optimal-IT® (pLDH-based) tests. Rapid diagnostic test (RDT) results were taken into consideration to decide on malaria treatment and then compared with TBF/BS results (reference) to assess the performances and clinical usefulness of the RDT. TBF/BS and Optimal-IT® were concordant in 92% of patients but discordant in 10 false negative (3%) and 19 false- positive patients (5%). The performances calculated were: sensitivity=95%, specificity=91%, positive predictive value=90%, negative predictive value=95%, positive likelihood ratio=10, negative likelihood ratio=0.06 and diagnostic odds ratio=166, indicating that Optimal-IT® is a powerful and credible diagnostic tool. The Optimal-IT® test, which is already used in the field, showed good performances to effectively detect patients with and without malaria. It is therefore adapted to the malaria treatment strategy limited to confirmed cases.