A rapid test for malaria may have false-positive and false-negative results.
Most rapid tests for malaria are based on detection of Plasmodium antigens by antibody capture.
Causes of a false-positive:
(1) wrong patient testing
(2) elevated levels of rheumatoid factor (RF)
(3) acute leishmaniasis
(4) cold agglutinins associated with hepatitis C or mycoplasma
(5) lipemia
(6) hemolysis
(7) heterophile antibodies
(8) African trypanosomiasis
(9) acute schistosomiasis
(10) acute typhoid fever
(11) high-titer ANA
Causes of a false-negative:
(1) wrong patient testing
(2) very low parasitemia
(3) very high parasitemia
The result of a rapid malaria test should be confirmed by smear exam and/or PCR.
