Detection of malaria parasitaemia by polymerase chain reaction with an internal control

Abstract

Polymerase chain reaction was carried out on the 18S rRNA gene of Plasmodium falciparum to detect the presence of falciparum parasitaemia using human γ-interferon as an internal control. Twenty two out of 26 microscopically positive specimens were positive by PCR. Of the 25 microscopically negative specimens, 21 were negative by PCR while in 4 specimens the internal control was also negative.