Retraction Note: Molecular detection and quantification of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes carriage in used RDTs in malaria elimination settings in northern Senegal

Retraction: Malaria Journal (2020) 19:123 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-020-03204-w

The Editor-in-Chief has retracted this article due to a flawed methodology. The study reported that gametocyte carriage could be detected by amplificating Plasmodium DNA retrieved from used RDTs. However, the method of amplifying DNA rather than RNA used meant that the authors detected P. falciparum parasite instead of the gametocytes. The Editor-in-Chief has therefore lost confidence in the validity of the results presented in this article. Furthermore, the authors were unable to provide sufficient documentation confirming that this study had received ethics approval.

Magatte Ndiaye agrees to this retraction. Kiswendsida Thierry Guiguemde, Yakou Dieye, Aminata Collé Lô, Isaac Akhénaton Manga, Gnagna Dieng Sow, Moussa Diop, Tamba Souané, and Babacar Faye have not responded to any correspondence from the editor/about this retraction. The editor was unable to obtain current email addresses for Aminata Lam, Marie Pièrre Diouf and Roger Clément Kouly Tine.