Comparative field performance and adherence to test results of four malaria rapid diagnostic tests among febrile patients more than five years of age in Blantyre, Malawi

Table 2 Predictors of malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) sensitivity (RDT positive, expert microscopy positive) in Blantyre, Malawi, 2009

	Sensitivity n/N(%)	Unadjusted odds ratio (P value)	Adjusted odd ratio Model 1 (P value)	Adjusted odds ratio Model 2 (P value)
RDT type
Bioline SD	188/193 (97)	2.6 (0.17)	2.9 (0.14)
First response malaria	185/201 (92)	1.1 (0.82)	1.1 (0.84)
Paracheck	118/130 (91)	0.8 (0.63)	0.8 (0.77)
ICT diagnostics	98/109 (90)	Referent	Referent
Age
5 to ≤ 15 yrs	369/382 (97)	4.8 (< 0.001)	5.1 (< 0.001)	5.1 (< 0.001)
> 15 yrs	206/237 (87)	Referent	Referent	Referent
Temperature
≥ 37.5°C	281/298 (94)	2.1 (0.09)	1.7 (0.23)	1.7 (0.22)
< 37.5°C	286/310 (92)	Referent	Referent	Referent
Geometric mean parasite density
≥ 5000 per μl	181/193 (94)	1.1 (0.74)	0.7 (0.36)	0.6 (0.32)
< 5000 per μl	408/440 (93)	Referent	Referent	Referent
Self-treated with antimalarial in past 2 weeks
Yes	44/51 (86)	0.9 (0.85)	1.2 (0.82)	2.1 (0.38)
No	501/538 (93)	Referent	Referent	Referent
RDT performed by:
Community health worker	481/507 (95)	2.6 (0.03)		3.1 (0.02)
Laboratory technician	108/126 (86)	Referent		Referent

Model 1 assesses RDT type adjusted for patient age, temperature, parasite density, and self-treatment with anti-malarials.
Model 2 assesses RDT test operator (community health worker versus laboratory technician) adjusted for patient age, temperature, parasite density, and self-treatment with anti-malarials.

ISSN: 1475-2875