A study of a malaria antigen ELISA for screening of blood donors: antigen carriage and risk of transfusion malaria

Abstract

The persistence of post-treatment antigenaemia in falciparum malaria and the risk of transfusion malaria with Plasmodium falciparum were evaluated using an ELISA, based on PfHRP2 antigen capture assay. In 33 falciparum patients treated with chloroquine and followed up, 27(81%) were positive for antigenaemia on day 3, and 12 (38%) remained positive on day 14 suggesting the extent of drug resistant falciparum prevalence in this community.

The study did not show a risk of falciparum-transfusion malaria in multiple transfusion recipients. in the General Hospital, Kandy. It is concluded that thick blood film screening of donor bloods is an effective method to limit risk of transfusion malaria in Sri Lanka.