Accuracy of Rapid Tests for Malaria and Treatment Outcomes for Malaria and Non-Malaria Cases among Under-Five Children in Rural Ghana

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034073
• Publication Date: 2012-04-13T21:01:20Z
• Authors: Frank Baiden; Jayne Webster; Mathilda Tivura; Rupert Delimini; Yvonne Berko; Seeba Amenga-Etego; Akua Agyeman-Budu; Akosua B. Karikari; Jane Bruce; Seth Owusu-Agyei; Daniel Chandramohan
• Keywords: Rapid diagnostic test; Tropical Medicine; Diagnosis of malaria

WHO now recommends test-based management of malaria across all transmission settings. The accuracy rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and the outcome treatment based on result tests will influence acceptability adherence to new guidelines.We conducted a study at Kintampo hospital in rural Ghana evaluate performance CareStart, HRP-2 RDT, using microscopy as reference. We applied IMCI guidelines, restricted ACT RDT-positive children followed-up both (malaria) RDT-negative (non-malaria) cases over 28 days.436 were enrolled RDT evaluation 391 (children with haemoglobin >8.0 gm/dl) assess outcomes. Mean age was 25.4 months (s.d. 14.6). Sensitivity specificity 100.0% 73.0% respectively. Over follow-up period, 32 (18.5%) converted positive, 7 (4.0%) them presenting fever. More non-malaria group made unscheduled visits than (13.3% versus 7.7%) On scheduled visits, proportion having temperature higher that recorded day 0 compared group. Reports unfavourable outcomes by caregivers among group.The had good sensitivity specificity. However minority who not receive results may develop clinical within short period high This could undermine caregivers' health workers' confidence guidelines. Improving quality non-malarial febrile illnesses should be priority era malaria.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00832754.