Afr J of Med Phy_Biomed Engrg_& Sc Vol 2_No 2

Plasmodium falciparum is a global problem resulting in considerable morbidity and mortality [1,2]. Plasmodium vivax also causes appreciable morbidity and has become chloroquine – resistant in some endemic areas [3,4]. Therefore, the accurate diagnosis of malaria in febrile patients is essential for optimal patient management and the rational use of antimalaria drugs in malaria control programs. However, because standard light microscopy is often lacking in malaria-endemic areas, malaria is often diagnosed clinically by detecting the signs, a practice that is known to be inaccurate [5,7]. Over diagnosis of malaria and the excessive use of antimalarial drugs are common in tropics and result in inappropriate treatment of non-malaria fevers, wasted resources, potentially avoidable drug toxicity, and drug pressure that promotes the development of drug-resistant malaria [8,9]. The Parasight-F® test (Becton Dickinson, Sparks, MD) is an immunochromatographic dipstick test that specifically detects P. falciparum histidinerich protein II (Pf HRP II) in whole blood by anti54 U.M. Chukwuocha, I.N.S. Dozie, and C.O.E. Onwuliri