Clinical trials

The goal of this study is to measure the accuracy of a new measles rapid test when used in clinical health centres in several regions of Senegal. The rapid test will be used to test patients for measles who attend the participating health centres with signs and symptoms suggestive of measles infection. The rapid test can be used with a drop of blood from a finger, or oral fluid sampled with a swab rubbed over the gums. The rapid test will be compared to the standard methods of diagnosis in the laboratory using blood samples and oral or throat samples taken for surveillance purposes. The main questions the study aims to answer are: 1. What is the accuracy of the rapid test when used with capillary blood (a drop of blood from the finger tip) in health centres by non-laboratory health professionals? 2. What is the accuracy of the rapid test when used with oral fluid by non-laboratory health professionals? In addition to measuring the accuracy of the test, data will also be collected on whether the test is easy and practical to use and how best to record the results.