Human Diagnostics Worldwide, Eiken Chemical, FIND Malaria-LAMP

Human Diagnostics Worldwide, Eiken Chemical, and the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics launched Malaria-LAMP for the detection of malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax parasites. The group said that it is the first commercially available molecular test for P. vivax-associated malaria. The assay uses loop-mediated isothermal amplification developed by Eiken and is exclusively distributed by Human Diagnostics. FIND and the Hospital for Tropical Diseases evaluated the prototype test and coordinated in-country clinical performance studies in Columbia and Peru. The test can differentiate between Plasmodium pan species, P. falciparum, and P. vivax, and has a sensitivity of 84 percent to 94 percent and a specificity of greater than 92 percent. According to the group, the assay's limit of detection is one to two parasites per microliter.