A New Test Kit For Malaria Detection

IIT Guwahati

Scientists from IIT Guwahati have developed a new test kit that makes detecting malaria easy.

In-Detail

  • Malaria is a continuing burden on India.
  • Over a million cases were reported in the year 2017.
  • Detecting the disease early will help save millions of lives.
  • Making such detection easy, scientists from IIT Guwahati have developed a paper-based malaria test kit and detection method which is Simple, Fast and Reusable.
  • Using the kit, Plasmodium Falciparum, the malaria-causing parasite can be detected.

The Instruments

  • Scientists were able to detect the antigen released in the bloodstream by the malaria parasite using a simple syringe fitted with magnetic beads and some chemicals.
  • The magnetic bead-tethered aptamers (two different DNA molecules) captures only the specific antigen of the parasite, separates these from the blood serum to perform the reaction.
  • As per the scientists, the detection kit will be cheaper when mass produced and works efficiently even in hot and humid conditions.
  • One aptamer captures the antigen P. falciparum glutamate dehydrogenase – PfGDH of P.Falciparum strain and the other aptamer captures Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase – PLDH which is common among Plasmodium species.
  • These captured antigens when comes in contact with the chemical substrate in the syringe, turns the blue dye into pink.
  • This dye is then adsorbed over a chromatographic paper.
  • Pink colour on the paper is a direct indication of the presence of P.Falciparum in the blood serum.
  • The colour intensity increases according to the concentration of the parasite’s antigen in the blood serum.

Patent Application

  • The scientist team has already applied for the patent for one aptamer and the detection strategy.
  • In the next phase, scientists will field trial the kit for point of care applications.

Also, read:

Conclusion

  • Quick detection of the parasite in the blood will enable healthcare professionals to act quickly to cure the patient of malaria.
  • The development of a detection kit indigenously will be cost-effective and will help the government achieve its target of eliminating malaria from the country by 2030.

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