Multiplex-RT-PCR-ELISA panel for detecting mosquito-borne pathogens: Plasmodium sp. preserved and eluted from dried blood spots on sample cards

Table 8 Concordance rates of Plasmodium sp. spotted on cards

Sample card	Concordant^a		Discordant^a		% Concordance^b
	+/+	−/−	±	−/ +
Sera, n = 132	16/27	102/105	3/105	11/27	89.39%	0.634
whole blood, n = 132	27/27	103/105	2/105	0/27	98.48%	0.955

Sera and whole blood samples obtained from 132 children suspected of having malaria were spotted onto cards. Subsequently, the spots were eluted by the method of Klüber (unpublished Master’s Thesis) and quantified by multiplex-RT-PCR-ELISA
^aKey: +/+, true positive; −/−, true negative; ± , false positive; −/+ , false negative
^bCompared to the results of multiplex-RT-PCR-ELISA performed directly on the same, non-spotted patient sample
^cInterrater reliability where κ 0.61–0.80 = substantial agreement and κ 0.81–0.99 = near perfect agreement

ISSN: 1475-2875