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Table 3 The consequences of low level gametocyte transcripts in asexual parasites and gametocytes of the opposite sex for assessing gametocyte prevalence and density

From: A multiplex assay for the sensitive detection and quantification of male and female Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes

Asexual parasite density

False positive signal in gametocyte quantification

Trust prevalence/estimated density if density is significantly above

Log10/mL

 

FG

MG

FG

MG

4

10/µL

0.001/µL

0.0001/µL

Any

Any

5

100/µL

0.01/µL

0.001/µL

Any

Any

6

1000/µL

0.1/µL

0.01/µL

0.1/µL

Any

7

10,000/µL

1/µL

0.1/µL

1/µL

0.1/µL

8

100,000/µL

10/µL

1/µL

10/µL

1/µL

  1. Numbers in italics are above the limit of detection. Other estimates are presented to illustrate the marginal impact of signal derived from asexual parasites on gametocyte quantification. The false positive signal strength for female (FG, CCp4) and male target (MG, PfMGET) is based on the comparison of NF54 (sorted) gametocytes and F12 ring stages