Sensitivity and Specificity of Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT)
Keywords: Malaria, Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT), Sensitivity, Specificity, Microscopy
Abstract
Malaria remains a significant public health issue in many regions, and early diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment. Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDT) are commonly used for malaria detection due to their speed and ease of use, but their diagnostic accuracy, particularly in regions with varying levels of parasitemia, remains a subject of ongoing research. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDT) for malaria diagnosis at Puskesmas Hanura, Teluk Pandan District, Pesawaran Regency, by assessing the sensitivity and specificity of the test. Methods: This analytical observational study employed a cross-sectional approach, analyzing blood samples from malaria suspect patients collected between December 2024 and February 2025, with a total sample size of 50 samples. The diagnostic performance of RDT was compared to the gold standard of microscopy using thick and thin blood smears. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated based on the results of both methods. The sensitivity of the RDT was found to be 93.5%, indicating that the test was highly effective in detecting true positive malaria cases, particularly in individuals with high parasitemia. The specificity was 100%, demonstrating that the RDT accurately identified malaria-free individuals with no false positive results. However, the study also identified two false negative cases, suggesting that the RDT's sensitivity could be reduced in cases of low parasitemia. The Rapid Diagnostic Test demonstrated excellent sensitivity and specificity in detecting malaria at Puskesmas Hanura, with no false positive results and a high rate of true positive detection. However, the test showed some limitations in detecting low parasitemia, emphasizing the need for confirmatory diagnostic techniques, such as microscopy or molecular methods, especially in areas with low transmission or mild infections.
References
Bwire, G. M., Ngasala, B., Kilonzi, M., Mikomangwa, W. P., Felician, F. F. and Kamuhabwa, A. (2019). Diagnostic Performance of CareStartTM Malaria HRP2/pLDH Test in Comparison With Standard Microscopy for Detection of Uncomplicated Malaria Infection Among Symptomatic Patients, Eastern Coast of Tanzania. Malaria Journal, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-019-2990-9
Ciputra, F. (2022). Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy: Diagnosis Terkini Di Era Pencitraan Multimodalitas. Unram Medical Journal, 11(3), 1033–1044. pp. https://doi.org/10.29303/jku.v11i3.780
Fadilah, I., Djaafara, B. A., Lestari, K. D., Fajariyani, S. B., Sunandar, E., Makamur, B. G., Wopari, B., Mabui, S., Ekawati, L. L., Sagara, R., Lina, R. N., Argana, G., Ginting, D. E., Sumiwi, M. E., Laihad, F., Müeller, I., McVernon, J., Baird, J. K., Surendra, H. and Elyazar, I. (2022). Quantifying Spatial Heterogeneity of Malaria in the Endemic Papua Region of Indonesia: Analysis of Epidemiological Surveillance Data. The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia, 5, 100051. p. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lansea.2022.100051
Huda, M., Yuniza, F. and Hartanti, H. (2024). Pemberdayaan Karang Taruna Desa Hurun Dalam Pencegahan Dan Penanggulangan Kejadian Malaria Di Desa Hurun Teluk Pandan Kabupaten Pesawaran. Jurnal Kreativitas Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat (Pkm), 7(6), 2476–2485. pp. https://doi.org/10.33024/jkpm.v7i6.14616
Karani, L., Thiong’o, K., Otinga, M. A., Ombati, M., Osano, M., Wangechi, L., Gesusu, N., Aluvaala, E., Onchieku, N. M. and Kimani, F. (2023). Performance and Comparative Evaluation of a Novel Diagnostic Assay, NovaplexTM Malaria Assay Kit, Against Routine Diagnostic Techniques in the Detection of Different Plasmodium Spp. In Kenya. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3566326/v1
Kuepfer, I., Mishra, N., Bruce, J., Mishra, V., Anvikar, A. R., Satpathi, S., Behera, P. K., Muehlenbachs, A., Webster, J., terKuile, F., Greenwood, B., Valecha, N. and Chandramohan, D. (2019). Effectiveness of Intermittent Screening and Treatment for the Control of Malaria in Pregnancy: A Cluster Randomised Trial in India. BMJ Global Health, 4(4), e001399. p. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2019-001399
Mwesigwa, J., Slater, H., Bradley, J., Saidy, B., Ceesay, F., Whittaker, C., Kandeh, B., Nkwakamna, D., Drakeley, C., Geertruyden, J. Van, Bousema, T., Achan, J. and D’Alessandro, U. (2019). Field Performance of the Malaria Highly Sensitive Rapid Diagnostic Test in a Setting of Varying Malaria Transmission. Malaria Journal, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-019-2929-1
Ncogo, P., Herrador, Z., Romay‐Barja, M., García-Carrasco, E., Nseng, G., Berzosa, P., Santana-Morales, M. A., Riloha, M., Aparicio, P., Valladares, B. and Benito, A. (2015). Malaria Prevalence in Bata District, Equatorial Guinea: A Cross-Sectional Study. Malaria Journal, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-015-0986-7
Prah, J. K., Amoah, S. K., Yartey, A. N., Ampofo-Asiama, A. and Ameyaw, E. O. (2021). Assessment of Malaria Diagnostic Methods and Treatments at a Ghanaian Health Facility. Pan African Medical Journal, 39. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2021.39.251.28996
Prasetyo, E. and Haryatmi, D. (2023). Identifikasi Spesies Plasmodium Malaria Di Wilayah Kerja Puskesmas Desa Hanura Pesawaran Lampung. Jurnal Analis Kesehatan, 12(1), 46. p. https://doi.org/10.26630/jak.v12i1.3243
Shah, N. K., Chaudhary, P. and Kaphle, G. C. (2022). Real-Time Traffic Prediction Using Monte Carlo Simulation: A Case Study of Kantipath Road, Kathmandu, Nepal. Bibechana, 19(1–2), 83–89. pp. https://doi.org/10.3126/bibechana.v19i1-2.46394
Sluydts, V., Heng, S., Coosemans, M., Roey, K. Van, Gryseels, C., Canier, L., Kim, S., Khim, N., Sovannaroth, S., Mean, V., Uk, S., Grietens, K. P., Sochantha, T., Ménard, D. and Durnez, L. (2014). Spatial Clustering and Risk Factors of Malaria Infections in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia. Malaria Journal, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-13-387
Triwahyuni, T., Haryati, S. and Nusri, M. (2023). Malaria Situation in Lampung Pesawaran During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Malahayati International Journal of Nursing and Health Science, 6(3), 170–174. pp. https://doi.org/10.33024/minh.v6i3.11642
Tyrrell, M. B., Krit, M., Sluydts, V., Sochantha, T., Sokny, M., Mean, V., Kim, S., Ménard, D., Grietens, K. P., Abrams, S., Hens, N., Coosemans, M., Bassat, Q., Hensbroek, M. B. van, Durnez, L. and Bortel, W. Van. (2019). Households or Hotspots? Defining Intervention Targets for Malaria Elimination in Ratanakiri Province, Eastern Cambodia. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 220(6), 1034–1043. pp. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiz211
Wibowo, A. H., Umniyati, S. R., Hutagalung, J. and Rahayu, T. (2020). Confirmation of Anopheles Balabacensis as Natural Vector of Malaria Caused by Plasmodium Knowlesi Inhabits Forested Areas in Kecamatan Balik Bukit, Western Lampung Regency. E3s Web of Conferences, 151, 01028. p. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202015101028
Yeboah, J. O., Norgbe, G. K., Lokpo, S. Y., Kinansua, M. K., Nettey, L. and Allotey, E. A. (2016). Comparative Performance Evaluation of Routine Malaria Diagnosis at Ho Municipal Hospital. Journal of Parasitology Research, 2016, 1–7. pp. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/5837890.
Copyright (c) 2025 Indonesian Journal of Global Health Research
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
