Comparison of Malaria Diagnosis between County and Provincial Laboratories in Guizhou Province

Malaria cases reported by county laboratories were further tested in the provincial laboratory in Guizhou province by using PCR test and microscopy. The consistency between PCR and microscopic results in the provincial laboratory was set as the basis for evaluation of microscopic results in county laboratories. In 89 samples, 24 were identified by PCR to be positive for malaria, among which 15 were infected with P. falciparum, 7 with P. vivax, and 2 with P. ovale; all were imported cases. And 21 samples had consistent identifications by PCR test and microscopic examination in the provincial laboratory. The total coincidence rate between county and provincial laboratories was 79.8%(67/84), and the undetected and error rates in county laboratories were 9.5%(2/21) and 23.8% (15/63), respectively. The Kappa value between county and provicial diagnosis was 0.6, being at the medium-to-high level of consistency.