Abstract:
Background: Pregnancy poses specific challenges in the diagnosis of Plasmodium
falciparum infection due to parasite sequestration in the placenta. The diagnosis of
Plasmodium falciparum infection in pregnant mothers therefore requires highly
sensitive methods in order to detect the presence of parasites. These include those
that detect the presence of antigens and those that detect and quantify the presence
of the malaria parasites.
Objective: The study assessed the performance of mRDT diagnostic test ((PfHRP2
-RDT) in the detection of malaria infection in blood samples from nulliparous
pregnant women within the first trimester of pregnancy in Western Kenya.
Methods: This was a prospective study on blood specimens collected from pregnant
women in a malaria-endemic region in Kenya. m-polymerase chain reaction
(mPCR) and mRDT tests were performed. The diagnostic accuracy of m-RDT was
compared with mPCR as the gold standard for the purpose of this study.
Setting: Twelve primary health facilities in Busia, Bungoma and Kakamega
Counties in Kenya
Results: Out of 264 mPCR positive samples, 130 were mRDT positive (true
positives) while 134 were mRDT negative (false negative). And out of 441 mPCR
