The Union Health Ministry has prohibited the use of the Antibody Detecting Rapid Diagnostic Tests for routine diagnosis of malaria. The reason to issue the guidance banning the use of antibody detecting rapid diagnostic tests is the persistence of antibodies even after clearance of an active infection. Malaria antibody detection is performed using the indirect fluorescent antibody test for a patient who is infected with Plasmodium. The expert committee stated that serology does not detect current infection but measures past exposure.
Disadvantages of Antibody Detecting Rapid Diagnostic Test There is a rampant use of Antibody Detecting Rapid Diagnostic Tests due to low cost and free availability of these tests. The false positive rate in the endemic areas is also high as patients with fever. The only tests used in diagnosis are Antigen Detecting Rapid Diagnostic Tests and blood smear…
