A novel method for extracting nucleic acids from dried blood spots for ultrasensitive detection of low-density  Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax  infections

Table 4 The presence of fungus has minimal effect on the detection of P. falciparum and P. vivax from Whatman 3MM dried blood spots (DBS) compared to paired preserved capillary blood and Whatman 903 Protein Saver cards

Sample#	Blood	903 DBS		3MM DBS
Sample#	Malaria	Malaria	Fungus	Malaria	Fungus
1	Pf+	Pf+	None	Pf+	Slight
2	Pv+, Pf+	Pv+, Pf+	None	Pv+, Pf+	Slight
3	Pv+	Pv+	None	Pv+	Slight
4	Pv+	Pv+	None	Pv+	Slight
5	Pv+	Pv+	None	Negative	Slight
6	Pf+	Pf+	None	Pf+	Slight
7	Pv+	Pv+	None	Pv+	Slight
8	Pf+	Pf+	None	Pf+	Moderate
9	Pv+	Pv+	None	Pv+	Moderate
10	Pf+	Pf+	None	Pf+	Moderate
11	Pv+	Pv+	None	Pv+	Moderate
12	Pv+, Pf+	Pv+, Pf+	None	Pv+, Pf+	Moderate
13	Pv+	Pv+	None	Pv+	Severe
14	Pv+, Pf+	Pv+, Pf+	None	Pv+, Pf+	Severe
15	Pv+	Pv+	None	Pv+	Severe

# Individual study participant; Pf, P. falciparum; Pv, P. vivax; +, positive; 903 DBS, Whatman 903 Protein Saver dried blood spot; 3MM DBS, Whatman 3MM dried blood spot