LAMP-based Assay Launched for Detection of Malaria

A new molecular diagnostic kit for the detection of the malaria parasite has been described as being up to 80,000 times more sensitive at detecting the malaria parasite than current testing options.

The illumigene Malaria test was developed by Meridian Bioscience, Inc. It uses loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technology, and is the tenth item on Meridian's list of illumigene assays for the diagnosis of infectious diseases, which includes C. difficile, whooping cough, Group A and B Streptococcus, mycoplasma, and herpes simplex virus.

LAMP is a single tube technique for the amplification of DNA. In contrast to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology in which the reaction is carried out with a series of alternating temperature steps or cycles, isothermal amplification is carried out at a constant temperature, and does not require a thermal cycler. In LAMP, the target sequence is amplified at a constant temperature of 60–65 degrees Celsius using either two or three sets of primers and a polymerase with high strand displacement activity in addition to a replication activity. Typically, four different primers are used to identify six distinct regions on the target gene, which adds highly to the specificity. An additional pair of "loop primers" can further accelerate the reaction. Due to the specific nature of the action of these primers, the amount of DNA produced in LAMP is considerably higher than PCR based amplification. Detection of amplification product can be determined via photometry for turbidity caused by an increasing quantity of magnesium pyrophosphate precipitate in solution as a byproduct of amplification.

illumigene Malaria is user-friendly, does not require special training or capital investment, yields results in under one hour, and the testing materials can be stored at room temperature.

“This is a major step forward in the fight to bring better care to those infected with malaria and to stop its spread,” said John A. Kraeutler, CEO of Meridian Bioscience.
“Malaria is a devastating disease and we are proud to work with all the talented and dedicated individuals around the world in the fight to eliminate it.”