Author(s)

Christian Chibuzo Uba^1,2*, Moses Nkechukwu Ikegbunam², Ifeoma Sandra Anagor³, Lilian Chinyere Eleanya⁴, Eucharia Nkiruka Ezeumeh⁵, Stephen Nnaemeka Ezekwueche⁴, Edith Chinenye Okechukwu¹, Charles Okechukwu Esimone²

¹Department of Microbiology, Paul University, Awka, Nigeria.
²Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
³Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
⁴Department of Microbiology, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli Campus, Uli, Nigeria.
⁵Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam Campus, Igbariam, Nigeria.

Background of Study: The reliability of microscopic techniques has become questionable in most endemic regions in Africa leading to its decreased utilization and increased utilization of RDT kits and other laboratory-based methods. Objective: To evaluate the performance of Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits and nest Polymerase Chain Reaction (nPCR) methods in detecting malaria infections among pregnant women visiting private hospitals in Onitsha district area of Anambra State, South-Eastern Nigeria. Methods: A total of 100 blood samples of pregnant women submitted to medical laboratory units of private maternal hospitals for malaria diagnosis in Onitsha district area were randomly selected for this study. Diagnosis was through microscopy, RDT kit (SD Bioline Pf-only test) and nPCR. Results: Pregnant cohorts had 95, 90 and 12 positive samples confirmed through microscopy RDT and nPCR respectively. RDT had a sensitivity and specificity of 89.47% and 0% while nPCR recorded sensitivity and specificity of 12.63% and 100% respectively. RDT and nPCR have a positive predictive value (PPV) of 94.44% of 100% respectively. Conclusion: This study revealed that nPCR is more efficient and reliable when compared with RDT in the diagnosis of malaria infection, having recorded the highest value for positive predictive value (PPV) and specificity than the RDT among pregnant women.

RDT, Microscopy, PCR, Sensitivity, Specificity, Pregnancy

Uba, C. , Ikegbunam, M. , Anagor, I. , Eleanya, L. , Ezeumeh, E. , Ezekwueche, S. , Okechukwu, E. and Esimone, C. (2021) Comparative Performance of Different Malaria Diagnostic Tools among Pregnant Cohorts in Onitsha Southeast Nigeria. Advances in Infectious Diseases, 11, 384-394. doi: 10.4236/aid.2021.114035.