Skip to main content

Table 2 An outline for a possible TPP for a rapid test to detect G6PD deficiency used prior to the treatment of vivax malaria

From: Review of key knowledge gaps in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency detection with regard to the safe clinical deployment of 8-aminoquinoline treatment regimens: a workshop report

Feature

Ideal specification

Comments

Output

Level of G6PD deficiency

In the absence of a consensus a quantitative read out may be most appropriate. In the absence of a consensus a qualitative read out may be controversial.

Use case

On patients with confirmed malaria infection.

This is an additional cost to malaria case management.

User

Someone who performs malaria RDTs or microscopy.

A quantitative read-out could come from a reader or scanner.

Sensitivity and Specificity

Must accurately classify all patients with G6PD levels below a pre-defined cut-off. No patients with potentially dangerously low G6PD levels should be misclassified as normal.

It is unclear on what the suitable cut-off should be. Too low and the risk of haemolysis increases. Too high primaquine is denied to more patients who need it.

Environmental tolerance

25-38°C, 40-90% humidity

Enzyme activity is extremely temperature sensitive.

Result read window

< 20 minutes

Technically challenging for an enzyme reaction.

Specimen type

Finger stick

Currently very limited data with finger stick specimens.