Testing can be performed on the same specimen collected for malaria screen.
GENERAL NOTES
APPLICATION: Malaria antigen is an adjunct to blood film microscopy for the diagnosis of malaria. Testing is rapid and simpler to perform and interpret than thick and thin films, but is insufficiently sensitive for some species to be used as a substitute.
The whole blood immunochromatographic test (ICT) detects circulating Plasmodium falciparum antigen as well as an antigen that is common to all four species of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium malaria.
The test may remain positive for up to two weeks in a patient treated for malaria. False positive results may be encountered in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and viral infections
