Malaria Diagnostics

Abstract

The imminent scenario of malaria burden on endemic regions burdens healthcare and is a threat to non-endemic regions. Microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) remain the gold standard for malaria detection in resource-constrained regions. They still present low sensitivity at low parasite density, however, with microscopy also requiring trained personnel, expensive and time consuming. Affordable, rapid, specific, sensitive and simple malaria diagnostics remain elusive. Molecular-based diagnostics, polymerase chain reaction and loop-mediated isothermal amplification, although highly sensitive even at low parasitemia, still have challenges hindering their use in resource-constrained regions. This chapter discusses the conventional microscopy, spectroscopy, RDTs and molecular platforms in malaria detection. It also highlights current interventions on mitigations of their existing hurdles and adaptability to developing regions. Such inventions include the amalgamation of different techniques, nanotechnology and artificial intelligence.