Development of a lateral-flow rapid diagnostic test of serological evidence of recent Plasmodium vivax infection

Objectives

The main objective of this multi-partner project is developing a simple, portable and affordable rapid diagnostic test to detect PvRBP2b antibodies.

This marker has been found to be the best performing indicator of P. vivax infection in the preceding 9-12 months and thus of increased risk of hypnozoite carriage and future relapse (Longley et al, 2020: www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0841-4). The Pv seroRDT device is undergoing stability optimisation ahead of field evaluations in 2021. The assay could allow detection of individuals at risk of relapse who should be prioritised for radical cure by primaquine and tafenoquine. This would allow the asymptomatic, and currently undiagnosable, P. vivax hypnozoite reservoir to be treated, thereby preventing disease burden and accelerate towards elimination.