MERISCREEN® Malaria PAN Ag — Universal Screening for All Plasmodium Species
MERISCREEN® Malaria PAN Ag is a rapid immunochromatographic test for the qualitative detection of pLDH antigen common to all human Plasmodium species — P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, and P. ovale — in human whole blood. Designed as a high-sensitivity screening tool (≥99% sensitivity, ≥99% specificity), it answers the critical first question: "Is it malaria — yes or no?"
Why a PAN-Only Screening Test?
Not every setting needs species differentiation. Blood banks screening donated units need maximum sensitivity to catch any Plasmodium species — a false negative means an infected unit enters the blood supply. Mass screening programs during outbreaks need rapid triage before confirmatory testing. Rural PHCs with limited resources need a single, foolproof yes/no answer. The PAN format delivers exactly this — at the highest sensitivity in the MeriScreen malaria lineup (≥99%) — with the widest storage tolerance (1–40°C) for deployment in challenging conditions.
How It Works
Add 5 µL (or one loop full) of whole blood to the sample well, followed by 4 drops of assay buffer. The test cassette contains a single PAN test line coated with anti-pLDH antibodies that detect plasmodium Lactate Dehydrogenase (pLDH) — an enzyme produced by all living Plasmodium parasites during active infection. If pLDH is present, colloidal gold conjugate complexes form visible colored bands at the test line. A control line validates each test. Results read at 20–30 minutes.
Key Advantages
Highest Sensitivity in Lineup: ≥99% sensitivity and ≥99% specificity — the gold standard for screening where false negatives carry serious consequences
Universal Species Detection: Single pLDH-based line detects all four human Plasmodium species — P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, P. ovale — no species blind spots
Blood Bank Grade: Specifically validated for screening collected blood units — essential for transfusion safety in endemic regions
Active Infection Marker: pLDH is produced only by living parasites — unlike HRP-II which can persist weeks after treatment, pLDH clears rapidly, enabling true current-infection detection and treatment monitoring
Widest Storage Tolerance: 1–40°C — survives tropical field conditions, warehouse heat, and cold-chain gaps that would compromise other kits
Longest Shelf Life: 24 months — reduces wastage and procurement frequency
Whole Blood Sample: 5 µL from fingerprick — loops provided, no preprocessing
Detect Limit: 50 parasites/µL — comparable to expert microscopy
Clinical Applications
Blood bank donor screening — mandatory pre-transfusion malaria screening in endemic districts; ≥99% sensitivity minimizes transfusion-transmitted malaria risk
Mass screening and surveillance — NVBDCP Active Case Detection (ACD) campaigns in endemic zones
First-line triage at PHCs/sub-centers — simple yes/no screening before referral for species-specific testing
Treatment monitoring — pLDH clears within days of successful treatment (unlike HRP-II); can be used to confirm parasitological cure
Post-treatment follow-up — detect recrudescence or relapse in previously treated patients
Outbreak response — rapid mass testing during epidemic alerts in non-endemic areas
