Fig. 3

Sensitivity and specificity of the P. malariae RPA-lateral flow (RPA-LF) assay. A Analytical sensitivity and specificity determined using serially diluted 18S rRNA plasmid copies/µL (equivalent to approximately 1700–0.17 genome equivalents/µL). B Example lateral flow read-out by species (Pf, P. falciparum; Pv, P. vivax; Po, P. ovale spp.; Pm, P. malariae; NTC, no-template control). C Clinical sensitivity determined using 21 Tanzania field samples with qPCR-confirmed P. malariae infection with a range of qPCR-determined parasite densities (log₁₀). One low-density case was missed (*). Three cases of Pm + Pf co-infection were included (^); the parasite density indicated for these Pm + Pf cases refers only to Pm. D Clinical specificity determined using Tanzania and Ethiopia field samples with qPCR-confirmed P. falciparum, P. ovale, and P. vivax