What is in the Plasmodium Detection Kit?

The TRUPCR® Malaria Detection Kit is a real-time PCR-based diagnostic test that qualitatively identifies Plasmodium spp. in human blood samples. This includes the five species known to infect humans:

• Plasmodium falciparum

• Plasmodium vivax

• Plasmodium ovale

• Plasmodium malariae

• Plasmodium knowlesi

These species vary in geographical prevalence, severity, and relapse potential, requiring a diagnostic tool that can detect all with high sensitivity.

This kit includes:

• Primer-probe sets targeting Plasmodium spp. (detected in HEX channel)

• Primer-probe set for an internal control (TEXAS RED channel)

• UDG to degrade contaminating amplicons

• Hot-start Taq polymerase for high-specificity amplification

• Master mix and controls (positive and negative.

Role of Plasmodium Targets in Disease

Plasmodium is a genus of parasitic protozoa that causes malaria in humans. Transmission occurs through infected Anopheles mosquitoes, which inject sporozoites into the bloodstream. The parasites travel to the liver and replicate before entering red blood cells.

Each species presents distinct clinical characteristics:

• P. falciparum: The deadliest form; causes severe complications like cerebral malaria and multi-organ failure.

• P. vivax: Most widespread; can remain dormant in the liver and cause relapses.

• P. ovale: Rare but capable of relapse due to hypnozoites.

• P. malariae: Chronic but less severe; can persist for years if undiagnosed.

• P. knowlesi: Zoonotic; found in Southeast Asia, can cause severe and rapid infections in humans.

Identifying the presence of Plasmodium-positive DNA is crucial to guide effective treatment strategies, especially since some species are resistant to specific therapies or require follow-up to manage relapse.

About the TRUPCR® Malaria Detection Kit

The TRUPCR® Plasmodium Detection Kit is designed for accurate, comprehensive malaria screening. Its ability to detect all five human malaria-causing species makes it invaluable in both clinical diagnostics and research applications.

The test’s UDG-based contamination control eliminates residual amplicons from previous PCR runs, preventing false positives. Meanwhile, hot-start technology ensures that only specific amplification occurs.

Core product highlights:

• High analytical sensitivity: detects low parasite DNA concentrations

• Reliable result validation: internal control detects extraction/amplification failure

• Compatible platforms: ABI 7500, QuantStudio, Bio-Rad CFX, Roche LightCycler, and more

• Rapid workflow: total runtime under 2 hours

• CE-IVD marked and validated on diverse clinical samples

This makes the kit suitable for use in hospital labs, malaria reference centers, and public health institutes.

Principle and Workflow

The TRUPCR® Malaria Detection Kit functions on fluorescent probe-based real-time PCR, targeting conserved gene sequences within the Plasmodium genome. The workflow includes:

1. DNA Extraction from EDTA-treated whole blood

2. Reaction Setup using a ready-to-use PCR master mix

3. Amplification and real-time detection:

   • HEX Channel: Plasmodium spp. detection

   • TEXAS RED Channel: Internal control signal

4. Interpretation: Ct values confirm the presence or absence of Plasmodium DNA

The inclusion of an internal control enables labs to rule out invalid tests due to inhibition or extraction errors, ensuring high diagnostic confidence.

Clinical Application

The kit supports a range of diagnostic and surveillance needs:

• Routine malaria testing in endemic regions

• Differential diagnosis of febrile illnesses in travelers or hospitalized patients

• Screening during malaria outbreaks

• Epidemiological mapping of species distribution

• Monitoring treatment efficacy by detecting residual parasitemia

Unlike microscopy or RDTs (rapid diagnostic tests), real-time PCR provides higher specificity and can detect mixed infections or low parasitemia cases. This makes the TRUPCR® Plasmodium Detection Kit a reliable, modern alternative for Plasmodium-targeted diagnostics.