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

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Authors: Joseph Lee Teck Yon, Norah Htet Htet, Cho Naing, Wong Siew Tung, Htar Htar Aung, Joon Wah Mak
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2022
• Subjects: Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-022-04419-9; https://doaj.org/article/d62245fdd2674e34bbb73b6b60488106

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 ...