by Poyer S, Shewchuk T, Tougher S, Ye Y; ACTwatch Group, Mann AG, Willey BA, Thomson R, Amuasi JH, Ren R, Wamukoya M, Taylor M, Nguah SB, Mberu B, Kalolella A, Juma E, Festo C, Johanes B, Diap G, Bruxvoort K, Ansong D, Hanson K, Arnold F, Goodman C. Tropical Medicine & International Health 2015, doi: 10.1111/tmi.12491.
Summary: The aim of this study was to describe the state of the public and private malaria diagnostics market shortly after WHO updated its guidelines for testing all suspected malaria cases prior to treatment. Eighteen months after WHO updated its case management guidelines, RDT (rapid diagnostic test) availability remained poor in the private sector in sub-Saharan Africa. Given the ongoing importance of the private sector as a source of fever treatment, the goal of universal diagnosis will not be achievable under current circumstances. These results constitute national baselines against which progress in scaling-up diagnostic tests can be assessed.
