Ultrasensitive and Robust Point-of-Care Immunoassay for the Detection of <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> Malaria
Teppo Salminen, Farha Mehdi, Deepak Rohila, Manjit Kumar, Sheikh M. Talha, John Antony Jude Prakash, Navin Khanna, Kim Pettersson, Gaurav Batra
Abstract
from different geographical areas. The limit of detection was compared to a WHO-prequalified rapid diagnostic test (RDT). The UCNP-LF achieved a detection limit of 0.2-2 parasites/μL, depending on the strain, which is 50- to 250-fold improvement in analytical sensitivity over the conventional RDTs. The developed UCNP-LF is highly stable even at 40 °C for at least 5 months. The extensively optimized UCNP-LF assay is as simple as the conventional malaria RDTs and requires 5 μL of whole blood as sample. Results can be read after 20 min from sample addition, with a simple photoluminescence reader. In the absence of a reader device at the testing site, the strips after running the test can be transported and read at a central location with access to a reader. We have found that the test and control line signals are stable for at least 10 months after running the test. The UCNP-LF has potential for diagnostic testing of both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals.