Plasmodium falciparum histidine rich protein 2 plasma concentrations from uncomplicated and severe malaria patients estimated by rapid test band intensity.
6 affiliations
- 1Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
- 2Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
- 3Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- 4Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. [email protected].
- 5Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. [email protected].
- 6The Academy of Science, The Royal Society of Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
Unlike peripheral blood parasitaemia, plasma concentrations of PfHRP2 has been established as a measure of total body parasite burden in patients with falciparum malaria, which is prognostic for progression to severe malaria and case fatality. Plasma PfHRP2 concentrations are typically quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods. We assessed whether band intensity on a PfHRP2-based ultrasensitive rapid diagnostic test (RDT) can provide a semi-quantitative measure for plasma PfHRP2 concentrations.Methods
Plasma samples from 60 African patients with severe falciparum malaria and 20 patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria were assessed for PfHRP2 by ELISA and compared with RDT band intensity, assessed both visually and by digital scanning.Results
Visual readings of RDT band intensity correlated with PfHRP2 plasma concentrations assessed by ELISA in patients with both uncomplicated (ρ = 0.80) and severe falciparum malaria (ρ = 0.61). Digitally assessed RDT band intensity in patients with severe malaria was higher than in patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria.Conclusion
RDT band intensity correlates with plasma PfHRP2 concentration measured by ELISA and may offer a simple method for estimating total parasite burden in patients with falciparum malaria.
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BibTeX
@article{yipsirimetee2026plasmodium,
title = {{Plasmodium falciparum histidine rich protein 2 plasma concentrations from uncomplicated and severe malaria patients estimated by rapid test band intensity.}},
author = {Achaporn Yipsirimetee and Chorpaka Tangjaroenpoonsuk and Patpannee Khanthagan and Amornrat Promsongsil and Noppadon Tangpukdee and Borimas Hanboonkunupakarn and Nicholas J White and Arjen M Dondorp and Kesinee Chotivanich},
journal = {BMC infectious diseases},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12879-026-14077-w},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42919214},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Plasmodium falciparum histidine rich protein 2 plasma concentrations from uncomplicated and severe malaria patients estimated by rapid test band intensity.
AU - Achaporn Yipsirimetee
AU - Chorpaka Tangjaroenpoonsuk
AU - Patpannee Khanthagan
AU - Amornrat Promsongsil
AU - Noppadon Tangpukdee
AU - Borimas Hanboonkunupakarn
AU - Nicholas J White
AU - Arjen M Dondorp
AU - Kesinee Chotivanich
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - BMC infectious diseases
DO - 10.1186/s12879-026-14077-w
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42919214
AB - Background Unlike peripheral blood parasitaemia, plasma concentrations of PfHRP2 has been established as a measure of total body parasite burden in patients with falciparum malaria, which is prognostic for progression to severe malaria and case fatality. Plasma PfHRP2 concentrations are typically quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods. We assessed whether band intensity on a PfHRP2-based ultrasensitive rapid diagnostic test (RDT) can provide a semi-quantitative measure for plasma PfHRP2 concentrations.Methods Plasma samples from 60 African patients with severe falciparum malaria and 20 patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria were assessed for PfHRP2 by ELISA and compared with RDT band intensity, assessed both visually and by digital scanning.Results Visual readings of RDT band intensity correlated with PfHRP2 plasma concentrations assessed by ELISA in patients with both uncomplicated (ρ = 0.80) and severe falciparum malaria (ρ = 0.61). Digitally assessed RDT band intensity in patients with severe malaria was higher than in patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria.Conclusion RDT band intensity correlates with plasma PfHRP2 concentration measured by ELISA and may offer a simple method for estimating total parasite burden in patients with falciparum malaria.
SN - 1471-2334
ER -