ArticleMalaria journal2014
PCR targeting Plasmodium mitochondrial genome of DNA extracted from dried blood on filter paper compared to whole blood.
Article in Malaria journal, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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15 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 21 citations in OpenAlex.
- Comparative performance of PCR using DNA extracted from dried blood spots and whole blood samples for malaria diagnosis: a meta-analysis.Scientific reports · 2021Pooled it
- Rapid diagnostic tests for Plasmodium vivax malaria in endemic countries.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2020Pooled it
- WHO malaria nucleic acid amplification test external quality assessment scheme: results of eleven distributions over 6 years.Malaria journal · 2025Article
- Evaluation of dried blood spot sampling for real-time PCR malaria diagnostics in a rural setting in Angola.Parasites & vectors · 2025Article
- Significance of nested PCR testing for the detection of low-density malaria infection amongst febrile patients from the Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project in Mandla, Madhya Pradesh, India.Malaria journal · 2022Article
- Feasibility of community at-home dried blood spot collection combined with pooled reverse transcription PCR as a viable and convenient method for malaria epidemiology studies.Malaria journal · 2022Article
- Accuracy of a rapid diagnosis test, microscopy and loop-mediated isothermal amplification in the detection of asymptomatic Plasmodium infections in Korhogo, Northern Côte d'Ivoire.Malaria journal · 2022Article
- Tenfold difference in DNA recovery rate: systematic comparison of whole blood vs. dried blood spot sample collection for malaria molecular surveillance.Malaria journal · 2022Article
- Ultrasensitive molecular tests forRevista panamericana de salud publica = Pan American journal of public health · 2022Article
- Detection of Schistosoma mansoni DNA using polymerase chain reaction from serum and dried blood spot card samples of an adult population in North-western Tanzania.Infectious diseases of poverty · 2021Article
- Template copy number and the sensitivity of quantitative PCR for Plasmodium falciparum in asymptomatic individuals.Malaria journal · 2020Article
- Assessment of malaria real-time PCR methods and application with focus on low-level parasitaemia.PloS one · 2019Article
- Dried Blood Spots for Global Health Diagnostics and Surveillance: Opportunities and Challenges.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2018Review
- Molecular Testing for Plasmodium falciparum by Use of Serum or Plasma and Comparison with Microscopy and Rapid Diagnostic Testing in Febrile Nigerian Patients.Journal of clinical microbiology · 2015Article
- Malaria PCR detection in Cambodian low-transmission settings: dried blood spots versus venous blood samples.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2015Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMonitoring mortality and morbidity attributable to malaria is paramount to achieve elimination of malaria. Diagnosis of malaria is challenging and PCR is a reliable method for identifying malaria with high sensitivity. However, blood specimen collection and transport can be challenging and obtaining dried blood spots (DBS) on filter paper by finger-prick may have advantages over collecting whole blood by venepuncture.
methodsDBS and whole blood were collected from febrile children admitted at the general paediatric wards at a referral hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. DNA extracted from whole blood and from DBS was tested with a genus-specific PCR targeting the mitochondrial Plasmodium genome. Positive samples by PCR of DNA from whole blood were tested with species-specific PCR targeting the 18S rRNA locus, or sequencing if species-specific PCR was negative. Rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and thin blood smear microscopy was carried out on all patients where remnant whole blood and a blood slide, respectively, were available.
resultsPositivity of PCR was 24.5 (78/319) and 11.2% (52/442) by whole blood and DBS, respectively. All samples positive on DBS were also positive on Plasmodium falciparum species-specific PCR. All RDT positive cases were also positive by DBS PCR. All but three cases with positive blood slides were also positive by DBS.
conclusionsIn this study, PCR for malaria mitochondrial DNA extracted from whole blood was more sensitive than from DBS. However, DBS are a practical alternative to whole blood and detected approximately the same number of cases as RDTs and, therefore, remain relevant for research purposes.
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