Resumen

ABOU ORM, Sandra et al. Is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) an alternative to microscopic diagnosis of malaria in Bolivar State, Venezuela?: Comparison of both methods. Bol Mal Salud Amb [online]. 2014, vol.54, n.1, pp.95-99. ISSN 1690-4648.

Despite limitations reported for the microscopic diagnosis of malaria (thick and thin blood films) this is the method used in endemic areas around the world. In order to assess new tools for overcoming these limitations, a molecular test was standardized based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in which only two micro-tubes were used, and compared with microscopic diagnosis. Both diagnosis methods were performed on 73 blood samples from patients with symptoms compatible with malaria and resident in Sifontes municipality (Bolivar State, Venezuela). Of the samples examined, microscopic examination gave 36 (49.3%) positives whilst 41 (56.2%) were PCR positive. Six of the PCR positive samples were reported as negative by microscopic examination but only one sample registered as positive by this method was PCR negative. The sensitivity of the standardized PCR was 97.2% and the specificity, 100%; the degree of agreement between the two tests was 90.4% and the κ index = 0.8355 (very good). The high sensitivity and specificity of the PCR method suggests that it could be implemented to assess the quality and effectiveness of microscopic diagnosis.

Palabras clave : malaria; diagnosis; microscopy; PCR; Venezuela.

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