Malaria Antigen Test

A malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) detects proteins released by malaria parasites in a drop of blood, giving a result in about 15–20 minutes. It is widely used in clinics and public health programmes in India for quick diagnosis, especially where a microscope and trained technician are not immediately available.

Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites spread by Anopheles mosquitoes. In India, P. vivax and P. falciparum are the main species, and falciparum can progress to severe disease quickly. Typical symptoms include fever with chills and sweating that may come in cycles, headache, body ache, vomiting and weakness.

Most RDTs detect falciparum (HRP2) and a common antigen for other species (pLDH). They are quick, but less sensitive at very low parasite levels, and HRP2 can stay positive for weeks after treatment. A thick and thin blood smear under the microscope remains the gold standard and tells the species and parasite density, so a negative RDT with continued fever is usually followed by a smear.