Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays targeting the small-subunit rRNA were developed and evaluated, allowing for the simultaneous diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax DNA in human blood samples. The PCR methods and quantitative buffy coat (QBC) were compared in 402 patients. The heminested PCR method showed a sensitivity of 97.4%, which was superior to the sensitivity...
