Detection and Quantification of Plasmodium DNA in Dried Blood Spots Using a Commercial Real-Time PCR Assay and Filter Card System

Blood collected on FTA filter cards was analysed qualitatively and quantitatively with real-time PCR and the results compared with expert microscopy performed on-site in Gabon. There was 100% concordance for fresh blood samples. However, correlation of quantitative PCR-results was rather weak (0.52) and reproducibility showed coefficients of variation ranging from 10%–90%.