Priority use cases for antibody-detecting assays of recent malaria exposure as tools to achieve and sustain malaria elimination

Gates Open Res. 2019 Feb 12:3:131. doi: 10.12688/gatesopenres.12897.1. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Measurement of malaria specific antibody responses represents a practical and informative method for malaria control programs to assess recent exposure to infection. Technical advances in recombinant antigen production, serological screening platforms, and analytical methods have enabled the identification of several target antigens for laboratory based and point-of-contact tests. Questions remain as to how these serological assays can best be integrated into malaria surveillance activities to inform programmatic decision-making. This report synthesizes discussions from a convening at Institut Pasteur in Paris in June 2017 aimed at defining practical and informative use cases for serology applications and highlights five programmatic uses for serological assays including: documenting the absence of transmission; stratification of transmission; measuring the effect of interventions; informing a decentralized immediate response; and testing and treating P. vivax hypnozoite carriers.

Keywords: Elimination; Malaria; Serology; Use Cases.

Grants and funding

This study was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1171144). The findings and conclusions presented in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the CDC.