PATH-led study finds commercially available reference diagnostic detects malaria with whole blood sample

Media Contact: Lindsay Bosslet | media@path.org | 206.201.4637

Seattle, WA, March 20, 2020—New evidence in The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene suggests that the commercially available Q-Plex™ Human Malaria Array (5-Plex) can be used effectively with whole blood samples to detect malaria. The 5-Plex can differentiate between Plasmodium falciparum infections, including those with hrp2/3 deletions, and P. vivax infections and detects all human malaria infections, including P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesi. This is the first and only commercially available tool with such capability.

Launched in partnership with Quansys Biosciences, Inc., in June of 2019, the Q-Plex™ Human Malaria Array (5-Plex) is a quantitative immunoassay that supports researchers in creating more-sensitive malaria rapid diagnostic tests and will aid in public health surveillance by simultaneously measuring multiple malaria antigens and a human inflammatory response marker. Better rapid diagnostic tests that can be easily used in remote settings are critical to making sure people with malaria infections get diagnosed and get the right treatment.

PATH has led this study to determine if whole blood samples could be used to attain fine specificity for specific malaria parasites, including those with gene deletions, and reduce the need for complex molecular tests that do not currently exist commercially.

“Understanding how the markers we use to diagnose malaria behave in malaria-infected individuals allows manufacturers to improve the performance of malaria diagnostic tests. This tool allows us to develop this understanding. There is also an opportunity to use this tool for surveillance,” said Dr. Gonzalo Domingo, Scientific Director of Diagnostics at PATH.

The Q-Plex™ Human Malaria Array (5-Plex) is easily adopted by most laboratories and can be ordered directly from Quansys Biosciences.

This project is supported by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

PATH is a global organization that works to accelerate health equity by bringing together public institutions, businesses, social enterprises, and investors to solve the world’s most pressing health challenges. With expertise in science, health, economics, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other specialties, PATH develops and scales solutions—including vaccines, drugs, devices, diagnostics, and innovative approaches to strengthening health systems worldwide.

At Quansys Biosciences, our teams build and develop customizable multiplex and singleplex protein assay technologies that allow pharmaceutical companies, clinical laboratories, government institutions, universities, and researchers around the world access to large amounts of quantitative data quickly and efficiently. Q-Plex Array Technology has been aiding researchers to better understand disease and improve their biological sample testing since 2005. Learn more about Quansys and our products at www.quansysbio.com.