Ultrasensitive molecular tests for detection: applicability in control and elimination programs and reference laboratories.

Objective: To evaluate molecular tools to detect low-level parasitemia and the five species of that infect humans for use in control and elimination programs, and in reference laboratories.

Methods: We evaluated 145 blood samples from patients who tested positive by nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR), from asymptomatic individuals and from the WHO Global Malaria Programme/United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service. Samples were assayed using the genus-specific RealStar Malaria PCR Kit 1.