Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test in the detection of uncomplicated malaria in pregnancy: a meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy

Abstract Background Due to relatively low malaria parasitaemia in pregnancy, an appropriate field test that can adequately detect infections in pregnant women presenting with illness or for malaria screening during antenatal care is crucially important. The objective was to evaluate the diagnostic a...

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Main Authors: Joseph Lee Teck Yon, Norah Htet Htet, Cho Naing, Wong Siew Tung, Htar Htar Aung, Joon Wah Mak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2022-12-01
Series:Malaria Journal
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-022-04419-9
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author Joseph Lee Teck Yon
Norah Htet Htet
Cho Naing
Wong Siew Tung
Htar Htar Aung
Joon Wah Mak
author_facet Joseph Lee Teck Yon
Norah Htet Htet
Cho Naing
Wong Siew Tung
Htar Htar Aung
Joon Wah Mak
author_sort Joseph Lee Teck Yon
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Due to relatively low malaria parasitaemia in pregnancy, an appropriate field test that can adequately detect infections in pregnant women presenting with illness or for malaria screening during antenatal care is crucially important. The objective was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for the detection of uncomplicated malaria in pregnancy. Methods This was a meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy. Relevant studies that assessed the diagnostic performance of LAMP for the detection of malaria in pregnancy were searched in health-related electronic databases including PubMed, Ovid, and Google Scholar. The methodological quality of the studies included was evaluated using the QUADAS-2 tool. Results Of the 372 studies identified, eight studies involving 2999 pregnant women in five endemic countries that assessed the accuracy of LAMP were identified. With three types of PCR as reference tests, the pooled sensitivity of LAMP was 91% (95%CI 67–98%) and pooled specificity was 99% (95%CI 83–100%, 4 studies), and the negative likelihood ratio was 9% (2–40%). Caution is needed in the interpretation as there was substantial between-study heterogeneity (I 2: 80%), and a low probability that a person without infection is tested negative. With microscopy as a reference, the pooled sensitivity of LAMP was 95% (95%CI 26–100%) and pooled specificity was 100% (95%CI 94–100%, 4 studies). There was a wide range of sensitivity and substantial between-study heterogeneity (I 2 : 83.5–98.4%). To investigate the source of heterogeneity, a meta-regression analysis was performed with covariates. Of these potential confounding factors, reference test (p: 0.03) and study design (p:0.03) had affected the diagnostic accuracy of LAMP in malaria in pregnancy. Overall, there was a low certainty of the evidence in accuracy estimates. Conclusion The findings suggest that LAMP is more sensitive than traditional tests used at facilities, but the utility of detecting and treating these low-density infections is not well understood. Due to the limited number of studies with bias in their methodological quality, variation in the study design, and different types of reference tests further research is likely to change the estimate. Well-conceived large prospective studies with blinding of the index test results are recommenced.
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spelling doaj.art-d62245fdd2674e34bbb73b6b604881062022-12-25T12:06:02ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752022-12-0121111110.1186/s12936-022-04419-9Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test in the detection of uncomplicated malaria in pregnancy: a meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracyJoseph Lee Teck Yon0Norah Htet Htet1Cho Naing2Wong Siew Tung3Htar Htar Aung4Joon Wah Mak5School of Medicine, International Medical UniversitySchool of Medicine, International Medical UniversityDivision of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook UniversitySchool of Medicine, International Medical UniversitySchool of Medicine, International Medical UniversityInstitute of Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), International Medical UniversityAbstract Background Due to relatively low malaria parasitaemia in pregnancy, an appropriate field test that can adequately detect infections in pregnant women presenting with illness or for malaria screening during antenatal care is crucially important. The objective was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for the detection of uncomplicated malaria in pregnancy. Methods This was a meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy. Relevant studies that assessed the diagnostic performance of LAMP for the detection of malaria in pregnancy were searched in health-related electronic databases including PubMed, Ovid, and Google Scholar. The methodological quality of the studies included was evaluated using the QUADAS-2 tool. Results Of the 372 studies identified, eight studies involving 2999 pregnant women in five endemic countries that assessed the accuracy of LAMP were identified. With three types of PCR as reference tests, the pooled sensitivity of LAMP was 91% (95%CI 67–98%) and pooled specificity was 99% (95%CI 83–100%, 4 studies), and the negative likelihood ratio was 9% (2–40%). Caution is needed in the interpretation as there was substantial between-study heterogeneity (I 2: 80%), and a low probability that a person without infection is tested negative. With microscopy as a reference, the pooled sensitivity of LAMP was 95% (95%CI 26–100%) and pooled specificity was 100% (95%CI 94–100%, 4 studies). There was a wide range of sensitivity and substantial between-study heterogeneity (I 2 : 83.5–98.4%). To investigate the source of heterogeneity, a meta-regression analysis was performed with covariates. Of these potential confounding factors, reference test (p: 0.03) and study design (p:0.03) had affected the diagnostic accuracy of LAMP in malaria in pregnancy. Overall, there was a low certainty of the evidence in accuracy estimates. Conclusion The findings suggest that LAMP is more sensitive than traditional tests used at facilities, but the utility of detecting and treating these low-density infections is not well understood. Due to the limited number of studies with bias in their methodological quality, variation in the study design, and different types of reference tests further research is likely to change the estimate. Well-conceived large prospective studies with blinding of the index test results are recommenced.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-022-04419-9
spellingShingle Joseph Lee Teck Yon
Norah Htet Htet
Cho Naing
Wong Siew Tung
Htar Htar Aung
Joon Wah Mak
Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test in the detection of uncomplicated malaria in pregnancy: a meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy
Malaria Journal
title Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test in the detection of uncomplicated malaria in pregnancy: a meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy
title_full Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test in the detection of uncomplicated malaria in pregnancy: a meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy
title_fullStr Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test in the detection of uncomplicated malaria in pregnancy: a meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy
title_full_unstemmed Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test in the detection of uncomplicated malaria in pregnancy: a meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy
title_short Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test in the detection of uncomplicated malaria in pregnancy: a meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy
title_sort loop mediated isothermal amplification lamp test in the detection of uncomplicated malaria in pregnancy a meta analysis of diagnostic accuracy
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-022-04419-9
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