Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2019 | Malaria | Research
Ultrasensitive loop mediated isothermal amplification (US-LAMP) to detect malaria for elimination
Published in: Malaria Journal | Issue 1/2019
Login to get accessAbstract
Background
Malaria elimination requires diagnostic methods able to detect parasite levels well below what is currently possible with microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests. This is particularly true in surveillance of malaria at the population level that includes so-called “asymptomatic” individuals.
Methods
The development of the first ultrasensitive loop mediated amplification method capable of detecting malaria from both whole blood and dried blood spots (DBS) is described. The 18S rRNA and corresponding genes that remain stable on DBS for up to 5 months are targeted.
Results
In the case of Plasmodium falciparum, lower limits of detection of 25 parasite/mL and 50–100 parasite/mL from whole blood and DBS were obtained, respectively. A sensitivity of 97.0% (95% CI 82.5–99.8) and specificity of 99.1% (95% CI 97.6–99.7) was obtained for the detection of all species in asymptomatic individuals from Africa and Asia (n = 494).
Conclusion
This tool is ideally suited for low middle-income countries where malaria is endemic and ultrasensitive surveillance of malaria is highly desirable for elimination.