MALARIA ANTIGEN SCREEN
01 Overview
02 Details
Why get tested?
Rapid diagnostic tests (antigen testing)
When microscopy is not readily available, rapid diagnostic tests may be used instead of blood smears. These tests detect malaria antigens (proteins) in a sample of a person’s blood (usually taken with a fingerstick) and indicate a positive result by a color change on the testing strip. They are sometimes called “dipstick” tests.
Different rapid diagnostic tests are available, and they have varying capabilities in what they detect. For example, some rapid tests may detect all four common species (P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae) but do not distinguish between them. Others are combination tests that can detect all four common species and will identify P. falciparum specifically if it is present. The type of rapid test used is dependent on the patient population and the goals of providing a rapid test result.