This study evaluates the effectiveness of different diagnostic methods for detecting placental malaria in delivering Ghanaian women. In a group of 596 women, researchers compared the sensitivities of peripheral blood thick film microscopy, ICT Malaria P.f/P.v test, and PCR in detecting placental *Plasmodium falciparum* infection confirmed by microscopy. The results revealed that PCR was the most sensitive method (97%), followed by the ICT Malaria P.f/P.v test (80%), and peripheral blood thick film microscopy (42%). This highlights a significant underestimation of placental malaria when relying solely on peripheral blood film microscopy. The study also found that submicroscopic infections were a risk factor for maternal anemia. These findings emphasize the importance of using more sensitive diagnostic methods, like PCR, to accurately detect and manage placental malaria and mitigate its adverse effects on maternal health. More accurate diagnosis can help prevent maternal and child health issues such as anemia.
Published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, this article is directly relevant to the journal's focus on diagnostic methods for infectious diseases. The study’s evaluation of different diagnostic techniques for placental malaria aligns with the journal's objective of disseminating research that improves the accuracy and effectiveness of clinical microbiology practices.