SINGAPORE – A leading global malaria rapid test kit has been declared “not fit for purpose” a new study found.
According to researchers, the Abbott-Bioline Malaria Ag Pf/Pv RDT (rapid diagnostic test) failed to detect confirmed malaria infections, risking severe illness and death across endemic regions.
The study, conducted by the Thailand-based Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU) and published in the peer-reviewed Malaria Journal, revealed high failure rates in the studied batches of the widely-used diagnostic.
The Bioline test correctly identified only 18 percent of confirmed Plasmodium falciparum (the deadliest malaria species) infections in fields samples, compared to over 89 percent for an alternative RDT brand.
The SMRU researchers issued an immediate, urgent call for the Abbott-Bioline RDT to be pulled from use and replaced globally, warning that undetected cases could fuel further transmission and undermine malaria elimination efforts.
However, the World Health Organization has yet to issue a formal, specific recall for the product although it earlier issued a general warning last March about faint lines on various RDTs.
Abbott, on the other hand, defended its product quality, attributing performance issue to complex factors like local parasite genetics rather than a systemic flaw in the test itself.
Malaria in Asia Pacific doubled
Elsewhere, the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance (APLMA), in its 10-year progress report, said that current overall malaria cases in the region is nearly twice that of 2015.
The surge lays bare the profound vulnerabilities within national health systems, underscoring the urgent need for resilience and renewed commitment in the face of persistent threats, according to an APLMA release.
The comprehensive review spans 22 malaria-endemic and malaria-free countries in the region. While several nations have celebrated historic milestones in their fight against malaria, the region suffered a major setback.
Over the past decade, five countries – Bhutan, China, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste – have reported zero indigenous human malaria cases or achieved malaria-free certification from the World Health Organization.
Nine other countries – Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, North Korea, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, Vanuatu and Vietnam – have made positive progress over the past decade, with some nearing elimination.
But the region has also seen a 75 percent surge in malaria cases, rising from 2.5 million in 2015 to 4.4 million in 2024. After a promising decline to 1.8 million cases in 2021, the region saw a dramatic reversal, driven by climate shocks, conflict and funding shortfalls.
Pakistan alone saw a five-fold increase in transmission following catastrophic flooding in 2022, culminating in 2.1 million cases in 2024.
Myanmar’s malaria burden more than doubled, with cases rising from 79,000 in 2021 to 190,000 in 2024, exacerbated by the pandemic and ongoing civil conflict.
Indonesia recorded a decade-high of 540,000 cases in 2024, with the Papua region accounting for 93 percent due to persistent ecological conditions that favor year-round malaria transmission.
These three countries, together with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, account for 99 percent of the region’s malaria burden.
As countries grapple with a dramatic resurgence and mounting challenges, Dr. Sarthak Das, Chief Executive Officer of APLMA, urged countries’ leadership to act with impact.
“This escalation, coupled with epidemiological trends and resource constraints, have compelled several countries to shift their elimination targets (from 2030), stretching between 2032 and 2038,” warned Das explaining that such move could potentially dissipate political resolve and public confidence, granting malaria greater opportunity to embed itself within the very communities that are most at risk.
“Our current case numbers demand urgent and strategic refocus. The next five years will be a defining period for leadership and lasting impact,” he said.
One particular challenge the report cited is the reduction of external funding in the Global Fund’s current grant cycle which resulted to a 20 percent cut in malaria funding for Asia Pacific compared to the previous cycle.
There is now a US$478 million funding gap in the region forcing national malaria programs to make difficult trade-offs, undermining the effectiveness of control and elimination efforts and threatening to reverse hard-won gains.
Former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, now special advisor to APLMA pointed out the power of partnership and commitment.
“Strengthening partnerships, investing in communities, and holding ourselves accountable to the promise of a malaria-free Asia Pacific must remain at the heart of our efforts,” he said. “With unity, sustained financing, and unwavering commitment, Asia Pacific can make history as the first region outside Europe to eliminate malaria.”
Despite the obstacles, the report emphasized that malaria elimination is still very much attainable.
“This is not just about ending a disease – it is about protecting the most vulnerable, strengthening health systems, and demonstrating that regional solidarity can deliver historic results”, the report said.
