Evaluación de la efectividad de la prueba rápida OptiMAL-IT® como test de seguimiento en pacientes diagnosticados con malaria en la Amazonía peruana

Introduction: In Peru, optical microscopy with the thick smear test continues to be performed for the follow-up of malaria patients. This test is simple; however, it requires microscopic equipment and suitable staff to perform the reading of the samples. Studies suggest the rapid OptiMAL-IT® test as an option for follow-up. Objective: Evaluate the effectiveness of OptiMAL-IT® as a follow-up test in malaria patients in endemic areas of Peru. Materials and methods: Observational, analytical cross-sectional study of diagnostic tests performed in patients with malaria. All patients who met the inclusion criteria of different health facilities in the Peruvian departments of San Martín and Loreto were selected. Optical microscopy with the thick smear test and the OptiMAL-IT® test were taken on days 2, 3, 7, 14 for Plasmodium vivax and until day 21 of follow-up for Plasmodium falciparum. Percentages of correctly classified and predictive values were calculated and these results were compared between the western jungle and the eastern jungle using Chi2 or Fisher's exact tests. Results: 262 patients from San Martín and 302 from Loreto were registered. The percentage of correctly classified and the negative predictive value were higher than 92.0% and 93,0%, respectively, from the third day of follow-up and no statistical differences were found in the results obtained between the western and the eastern jungle. Conclusions: The OptiMAL-IT® test would be effective as a follow-up test in patients diagnosed with malaria in endemic areas of Peru.