Vol. 6, Issue 3, Part A (2019)

Author(s): Mohammed Bashir, Emmanuel Sunday, Bilyaminu Mohammed, Rufa’I Ali, Halima Isa, Kabir H Sambo, Mohammed K Adamu and Ibrahim Ishaq

Abstract: Malaria controls involve prompt diagnosis of malaria parasite by expert microscopy, Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs), or any other available tools. This study was aimed at comparing the efficiency and effectiveness of microscopy and rapid RDTs in the detection of malaria parasite. The study was conducted on patients who were directed to the parasitology laboratory department for blood screening for malaria parasites at specialist hospital, Jimeta, Adamawa state. Two hundred and sixty-two (262) blood samples were collected and screened using both microscopy and RDTs according to the manufacture’s guidelines. The result of the study revealed high prevalence in patients within 5 – 20 years of with 85(61.15%) and 83(59.71%) for microscopy and RDTs respectively. Out of 262 participants enrolled in this study 138(52.67%) were males and 124(47.33%) females. Microscopy was found to be positive in 170(64.89%) while RDTs was positive in 159(60.69%). Microscopy revealed sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 100%. However, RDT revealed sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 93.29%, 93.81%, 96.23% and 89.22% respectively. This study revealed that microscopy remains the gold standard method for malaria diagnosis especially when there are expert in microscopy. Furthermore, in areas when expert in microscopy is not available, RDTs can be used for quick diagnosis of malaria parasites.