Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) that detect histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) remain the mainstay of falciparum malaria diagnosis in Sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding their test characteristics when used for surveillance in asymptomatic populations is important.
Jonathan Juliano, MD, MSPH, Jonathan B. Parr, MD, MPH, Jessica Lin, MD, MSCR, explored the rate of false-positive and false-negative mRDT results among asymptomatic persons >5 years old screened for malaria at schools and clinics in the rural Bagamoyo District using 18S ribosomal RNA real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) as the reference test.