ArticlePloS one2026
"It doesn't require blood!": Perceptions around non-invasive malaria testing tools in Indonesia, Peru, and Rwanda.
Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Noninvasive malaria detection beyond blood sampling.Sensors & diagnostics · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
13 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Malaria remains a major global health challenge. Prompt, accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective case management. Current diagnostic approaches rely on invasive or minimally invasive sampling via venous or fingerpick blood draw, posing a risk to healthcare workers via the handling of potentially infectious body fluids. They may also be a barrier to recipients, particularly in malaria-endemic areas where there is routine testing of non-symptomatic individuals. Non-invasive tests based on saliva, exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and transdermal detection have the potential to increase case detection and linkage to care while reducing biosafety risks. Knowledge gaps exist regarding the feasibility and acceptability of these tools. This qualitative study, conducted in Indonesia, Peru, and Rwanda, aimed to generate evidence from end-users around the potential adoption of non-invasive diagnostic technologies, to determine whether these technologies are fit for purpose. Between October and November 2023, 24 semi-structured interviews were conducted with stakeholders and professionals working at borders, and 16 focus group discussions were conducted with caregivers of children under 5 years, pregnant women, healthcare workers, teachers and other community members (139 participants in total). The comfort non-invasive approaches offer to recipients of care was widely noted, especially compared with blood draw, which is considered painful for children. Ease of use and rapid diagnostic capabilities enabling real-time disease diagnosis were perceived as particularly beneficial in remote areas with limited healthcare infrastructure. Device portability was seen as a game-changer. Major concerns were the lack of information regarding the accuracy of non-invasive tools compared with established methods, the lack of trust in tests targeting specimens other than blood products, and their inability to differentiate between malaria species. Early engagement with stakeholders in the development of novel interventions is essential to ensure that end products meet the needs of communities.
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Registered trials
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