Table 2 Sensitivity of microscopy or RDT compared with PCR in areas with declining transmission

From: The temporal dynamics and infectiousness of subpatent Plasmodium falciparum infections in relation to parasite density

Country

Year

Microscopy or RDT

Microscopy/ RDT prevalence % (N)

PCR prevalence % (N)

Sensitivity of microscopy/RDT

Reference

Brazil*

2004 (Mar–Apr)

Microscopy

1.5 (388)

9.1 (386)

16.5

70

 

2004 (Sep–Oct)

Microscopy

1.6 (378)

8.7 (379

18.4

 
 

2005

Microscopy

0.0 (329)

6.7 (328)

0

 
 

2006

Microscopy

0.3 (351)

2.4 (334)

12.5

 

Kenya

2012

Microscopy

2.0 (779)

6.2 (779)

32.3

68

 

2013

Microscopy

0.2 (797)

3.3 (797)

6.1

 

Tanzania

2005

Microscopy

1.9 (2721)

32.5 (453)

5.8

69

 

2008

Microscopy

0.0 (370)

2.8 (145)

0

 

Tanzania, Zanzibar†

2005

Microscopy

7.5 (2471)

21.1 (534)

35.5

23

 

2009

Microscopy

0.0 (2423)

3.3 (2423)

0

 
 

2011

RDT

0.4 (2904)

2.2 (2977)

18.2

 
 

2013

RDT

0.3 (3026)

2.3 (3038)

13

 

Zambia†

2009

RDT

0.7 (676)

2.7 (638)

25.9

67

 

2010

RDT

0.2 (871)

1.8 (871)

11.1

 
 

2011

RDT

0.4 (740)

1.5 (740)

26.7

 
 

2012

RDT

0 (688)

0.4 (688)

0

 
  1. Sensitivity is measured by slide and PCR unless otherwise indicated: Zanzibar23 (microscopy used up to 2009, RDT used > 2009), Zambia67 (RDT), Kenya68, Tanzania69 (QT-NASBA), Brazil70
  2. *Blood samples were finger prick in 2004 and 2006 and venous in 2005
  3. †Filter papers in earlier years were stored for longer prior to PCR
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