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Malaria self test kit for 10 quid !!! Malaria self test kit for 10 quid !!!
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Staying Healthy on the Road Medical info, e.g. malaria, vaccinations, travel medical tips, medical insurance, where to find a doctor.
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  #1  
Old 8 May 2007
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Malaria self test kit for 10 quid !!!
hi all ..

I have just received my order of malaria DIY kit .Its 15 Euros /10 Quid ... Quite professional poeple ,

they ship the kits from SouthAfrica (looks a bit as a scam ) but they definitely deliver -takes around 10 days-

I order 3 of those , and did a test with one , with the expected results of no-malaria
Apparently test for "normal" malaria and "cerebral" malaria .

In my web-forum I posted some pictures of it , to get an idea . Its on Spanish but the piccies should be self-explaining

http://viajesyaventuras.mywowbb.com/forum7/868.html

Have a nice day !
javier
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Old 9 May 2007
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Bit sceptical!
All looks good on paper but i'm afraid i'm very skeptical having just studyied a Tropical Medicine Diploma and spent hours in a lab learning to diagnose the strains of malaria under a microscope (to WHO guidelines).

If i suspected i had it, I'd still get checked out properly.
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Old 9 May 2007
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well , I reckon that this doesnt look very scientific !! .. but I assure you that It works.

why ?

'cos I am in the Gambia a good part of the year.. and over there , testing for malaria is everyday routine (well , not every day but really common )

and -guess what - ? The tests are done exactly with this very same kit. -hence I found it on the web- .

I agree that is not 100% acurate as a western-lab , but for most of us on the road , it is either this or nothing . Even the leaflet states it :"This is a malaria field-test . Positive results should be definitely treated as very probable malaria infection . However Negative results will be consider accurate in 80% .If in doubt go to a Hospital " -well , that's common sense-

anyway .. for the price of a couple pints... why not ? Looks cool !

Javier
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Old 9 May 2007
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Malaria kit
Have to admit not sure what they do in Gambia. My experience was from training in a lab in Central Africa for a few weeks as part of the course.
Theres no harm in doing it, i just wanted people to be aware that it may not be accurate as i would never wish Falcipurum malaria on anyone.
It would be worth carrying a couple if their single use and do a couple of tests 8-12 hours apart as the parasite moves between the liver and blood so depending on where it is, gives a different result (this applys to other methods as well)
Its up to the individual to use sense.

(Don't think I'll risk it though!)
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Old 10 May 2007
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Just finished an expedition medic course and this subject cropped up.

The opinion of the doctors, was that these kits (I'm assuming these are the same ones) are worth taking as a useful part of your diagnostic 'tool bag', but they should not be relied on as they often give false negatives.

In other words, if you've been in a malarial zone and it looks like malaria, then you need to start treatment no matter what.
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Old 10 May 2007
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Ritchard where did you do your course?
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Old 10 May 2007
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"cure"
Used these kits on a sailing trip from SA to OZ. Bought them in South Africa with a "cure" So if test was positive... Take few tabs as cure. This was however for countries Mozambique, Madagascar, Seychelles, Maldives, India, Thailand, malaysia, Singapore, Indoneaia, OZ!
I will stress that the straines of malaria in africa are killers!!
My 1p worth....
Orrin
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Old 11 May 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andyb43 View Post
Ritchard where did you do your course?
Hi Andy, with WMT.
Wilderness Medical Training home page
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Last edited by Richard K; 11 May 2007 at 09:03. Reason: spelling
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Old 11 May 2007
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Originally Posted by Richard K View Post
a useful part of your diagnostic 'tool bag', but they
should not be relied on as they often give false negatives.

In other words, if you've been in a malarial zone and it looks like malaria, then
you need to start treatment no matter what.
So why bring one of those kits? Am I missing the point?

I get sick. I suspect malaria so I test. The test is negative, but I still feel sick,
so I go to the doctor .... Isn't that the same as going to the doctor?

Save the money and the space seems a better plan to me.

Maarten
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Old 11 May 2007
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Originally Posted by mmaarten View Post
So why bring one of those kits? Am I missing the point?

I get sick. I suspect malaria so I test. The test is negative, but I still feel sick,
so I go to the doctor .... Isn't that the same as going to the doctor?

Save the money and the space seems a better plan to me.

Maarten
I'd agree, most of the time you're likely to be close to local clinics - who will be well-practised at spotting malaria.

To qualify, I think the advice to take the test kit really relates to groups of people in remote spots, where the statistical odds of a case are higher and you also have the carrying capacity for a more comprehensive medical kit.

In that situation any clues which can help in planning are useful. All about balancing risks.

As long as you don't see a 'negative' result as an all-clear then there's no downside to taking a test.
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