In low-transmission settings, submicroscopic quantities of Plasmodium falciparum are undetectable by current rapid diagnostic tests and ELISAs. Detection of this reservoir is essential, and we need a highly sensitive laboratory reference assay to confirm these infections. This study aimed to characterize the analytical and diagnostic performance of Alere’s high-sensitivity test.

Author: Das S, Jang I, Barney B, Peck R, Rek J, Arinaitwe E, Adrama H, Murphy M, Imwong M, Ling C, Proux S, Haohankhunnatham W, Seilie A, Hanron A, Daza G, Chang M, Nakamura T, Kalnoky M, LaBarre P, Murphy S, Nosten F, Greenhouse B, Domingo G

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Global

Part of series: ASTMH posters

Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is associated with serious risks for children in low-resource settings. We currently need a tool to quantitate EED biomarkers to increase the efficiency of EED screening before clinical trial enrollment. This study worked to develop an assay to detect and quantify EED biomarkers in human specimens

Author: Arndt M, Cantera J, Choy R, Tyler A, Lyman C, Boyle D

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Global

Part of series: ASTMH posters

Lymphatic filariasis is caused primarily by Wuchereria bancrofti (Wb) and can be co-endemic with certain filarial parasites in central Africa. Two new IgG4 rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are available from Standard Diagnostics, Inc. The aim of this research was to determine the specificity of the Wb123 RDTs in co-endemic zones.

Author: Golden A, Storey H, Gerth-Guyette E, Kalnoky M, Njouendou J, Ekanya R, Mbeng A, Ndzeshang B,

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Africa

Part of series: ASTMH posters

PATH’s Scale-Up project works to expand the use of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing for cervical cancer prevention. Based on PATH’s experience implementing the careHPV™ test in Central America, this manual, available in Spanish and English, provides guidance for organizing a quality assurance program to screening programs adopting the careHPV test.

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Latin America, Global

Parasite detection is required to diagnose malaria, parasite counting is required to monitor treatment for severe cases, and species identification is required to correctly treat malaria. MalariaCare helps countries improve the accuracy of malaria diagnostic testing. This study examines MalariaCare’s malaria diagnostic refresher trainings for laboratory staff in francophone Africa.

Author: Lim P, Saye E, Ouologuem A, Kutumbakana S, Niyizompa N, Guindo B, Seleman M, Ratsimbaso A, Mihigo J, Eckert E, Yellott L, Heinsen J, Martin T, Hamilton P, Ndiaye D, Schwabe C

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Africa

Part of series: ASTMH posters

Asymptomatic malaria infection in endemic areas presents new challenges, as the asymptomatic individuals constituting the human parasite reservoirs contribute to transmission. To achieve elimination, asymptomatic and submicroscopic reservoirs must be identified and treated. Here we sought to develop a highly sensitive tool to detect P. falciparum and P. vivax infection.

Author: Jang I, Tyler A, Lyman C, Barney B, Rashid A, Kahn M, Rist M, Kalnoky M, Das S, Peck R, Seilie A, Hanron A, Daza G, Chang M, Murphy S, McCarthy J, Domingo J

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Global

Part of series: ASTMH posters

Currently, the only drugs that radically cure Plasmodium vivax malaria are 8-aminoquinoline–based drugs, which can cause hemolysis in G6PD-deficient patients. Therefore, determination of G6PD level is critical before treatment. This study evaluated tests for G6PD deficiency, including validating the correlation of quantitative reference assays, and establishing recombinant G6PD controls.

Author: Pal S, LaRue N, Hrutkay S, Barney B, Kahn M, Bansil P, Kalnoky M, LeaderT, Domingo G

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Global

Part of series: ASTMH posters

Plasmodium vivax causes over 100 million infections annually; 8-aminoquinoline drugs can clear the parasites, but may also cause hemolysis in patients with G6PD deficiency. PATH developed GeoDX, a computer program that estimates the P. vivax burden per health facility, the total quantity of G6PD tests per country, and associated costs.

Author: Kalnoky M, Luter N, Nowak S, Metzler M, Domingo G, Malaria Atlas Project at Oxford University

Publication date: November 2017

Region: Global

Part of series: ASTMH posters

Vitamins and minerals are essential for healthy growth and development, especially for children and women. This fact sheet describes PATH and partners development of a multiplexed diagnostic panel to support surveillance of micronutrient deficiencies and further support vaccination efforts.

Publication date: October 2017

Region: Global

Eliminating malaria requires collaboration across borders, sectors, and disciplines. PATH engages partners in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to develop, evaluate, and scale tools and strategies to defeat malaria. Our partnership model translates bold ideas into products and strategies, and leverages national capacity in the fight against malaria.

Author: Bilak H, Steketee R

Publication date: September 2017

Region: Global

Part of series: Malaria learning series

Since the beginning of the pandemic, PATH has worked in more than 35 countries to reduce the global impact of HIV/AIDs. This fact sheet outlines the range of PATH’s work to address HIV/AIDS, from developing new diagnostics to improving service delivery.

Publication date: August 2017

Region: Global

PATH and the University of Washington are working to refine the bag-mediated filtration system (BMFS) that collects wastewater or sewage in a bag, and passes it through a simple filter that binds Poliovirus (PV). The goal of this project is to develop, validate, and commercialize a new environmental surveillance  tool to assist in global eradication of PV.

Publication date: August 2017

Region: Global

Part of series: Areas of focus fact sheets

As malaria programs move closer to achieving elimination, more sensitive point-of-care diagnostic tests are needed to detect the final parasite reservoirs. PATH and collaborators have developed a highly sensitive diagnostic test for Plasmodium falciparum malaria to use in the surveillance and mass screen-and-treat programs critical for malaria elimination.

Publication date: April 2017

Region: Global

This fact sheet describes soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH), a neglected tropical disease caused by parasitic intestinal worms.

Publication date: January 2017

Region: Africa, Asia, Latin America

GHTC is a group of 40 nonprofit organizations committed to increasing awareness of the urgent need for health technologies that save lives around the world. Breakthroughs highlights the news and stories that are driving the work we do to advance innovation to save lives.

Publication date: 2017

Region: North America and Europe

Part of series: Blogs

This website provides an overview of our Diagnostics Program and its featured projects. See other PATH program websites.

Publication date: 2017

Region: Global

Part of series: Program websites

This website about PATH’s Technology Solutions program provides an overview of the program and its featured projects. See other PATH program websites.

Publication date: 2017

Region: Global

Part of series: Program websites

PATH assesses diagnostic needs, landscapes potential solutions, and determines appropriate strategies to improve diagnostic testing to support schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiases control and elimination programs. Based upon literature reviews and previous input from experts, two diagnostic use cases are prioritized for further exploration.

Author: Hawkins KR, Cantera JL, Storey HL, Leader BT, de los Santos T

Publication date: December 2016

Region: Africa, Asia, Latin America

Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are parasitic intestinal worms that are controlled with mass drug administration in at-risk populations. The work described in this poster aims to develop a rapid, field-deployable, non-instrumented, magnetic bead-based protocol to extract STH egg DNA in stool, using Ascaris suum as model species, for use as a companion tool to recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA)-based diagnostics for STH.

Publication date: November 2016

Region: Global

Part of series: ASTMH posters

This study aimed to identify infections below the level of detection of the HRP2-based RDTs used to screen a cohort of individuals followed longitudinally in a randomized control trial. A negative RDT was highly predictive of a true negative, however a positive RDT was only correct half the time. RDT-positive/PCR-negative samples were likely to have been recently treated and cleared of parasites.

Publication date: November 2016

Region: Africa

Part of series: ASTMH posters