Rapid diagnostic tests
WHO has developed tools to strengthen capacities on the use of microscopy and systems to promote quality assurance of malaria microscopy.
Global Malaria Programme
The WHO Global Malaria Programme (GMP) is responsible for coordinating WHO's global efforts to control and eliminate malaria. Its work is guided by the "Global technical strategy for malaria 2016–2030" adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2015 and updated in 2021.
Diagnostic testing
Prompt malaria diagnosis either by microscopy or rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) is recommended by WHO for all patients with suspected malaria before they are given treatment. Early and accurate diagnosis is essential both for effective management of the disease and for strong malaria surveillance.
Parasite-based diagnostic testing significantly reduces illness and death by enabling health providers to swiftly distinguish between malarial and non-malarial fevers and select the most appropriate treatment. It improves the overall management of patients with febrile illnesses and may also help reduce the emergence and spread of drug resistance.
Where quality-assured diagnosis is readily available, health-care providers should only give antimalarial treatment to patients who test positive, while those who test negative should be assessed for other causes of fever.
Since 2010, when WHO recommended testing of all suspected malaria cases, the proportion of patients receiving a malaria diagnostic test has increased significantly.
WHO Guidelines for malaria
The WHO Guidelines for malaria bring together all current WHO recommendations on malaria in one easy-to-navigate web-based platform. They are a living resource that will be updated periodically as new evidence becomes available. The Guidelines are available in Arabic, English, French and Spanish.
Key areas
Microscopy
WHO provides tools and related material to ensure quality assured microscopy-based diagnosis for patients suspected of malaria.
Nucleic acid amplification-based diagnostics
Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) enable sensitive detection of low density malaria infections.
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