ArticlePloS one2024
Rapid and non-invasive detection of malaria parasites using near-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning.
Article in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.
- Noninvasive malaria detection beyond blood sampling.Sensors & diagnostics · 2026Review
- "It doesn't require blood!": Perceptions around non-invasive malaria testing tools in Indonesia, Peru, and Rwanda.PloS one · 2026Article
- Hepatorenal protective role of encapsulatedJournal of advanced veterinary and animal research · 2026Article
- Smartphone conjunctiva photography for malaria risk stratification in asymptomatic school age children.NPJ digital medicine · 2025Article
- Near-infrared spectroscopy discriminates mass-reared sterile and wild tsetse flies.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundNovel and highly sensitive point-of-care malaria diagnostic and surveillance tools that are rapid and affordable are urgently needed to support malaria control and elimination.
methodsWe demonstrated the potential of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technique to detect malaria parasites both, in vitro, using dilutions of infected red blood cells obtained from Plasmodium falciparum cultures and in vivo, in mice infected with P. berghei using blood spotted on slides and non-invasively, by simply scanning various body areas (e.g., feet, groin and ears). The spectra were analysed using machine learning to develop predictive models for infection.
findingsUsing NIRS spectra of in vitro cultures and machine learning algorithms, we successfully detected low densities (<10-7 parasites/μL) of P. falciparum parasites with a sensitivity of 96% (n = 1041), a specificity of 93% (n = 130) and an accuracy of 96% (n = 1171) and differentiated ring, trophozoite and schizont stages with an accuracy of 98% (n = 820). Furthermore, when the feet of mice infected with P. berghei with parasitaemia ≥3% were scanned non-invasively, the sensitivity and specificity of NIRS were 94% (n = 66) and 86% (n = 342), respectively.
interpretationThese data highlights the potential of NIRS technique as rapid, non-invasive and affordable tool for surveillance of malaria cases. Further work to determine the potential of NIRS to detect malaria in symptomatic and asymptomatic malaria cases in the field is recommended including its capacity to guide current malaria elimination strategies.
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