Malaria Antigen Test (Rapid) in New Town, Kolkata
At Pure Bliss Healthcare Centre, Action Area 2, New Town.
What the Malaria Antigen Test (Rapid) measures
The rapid malaria antigen test detects proteins made by malaria parasites in a blood sample, using a test card similar to a pregnancy test. Most kits can tell Plasmodium falciparum apart from other species such as Plasmodium vivax. Its strengths are speed and simplicity: it does not depend on a microscopist finding parasites on a slide. It also has limits. When parasites are very few the test can be negative, and the falciparum protein that many kits detect can stay in the blood for weeks after successful treatment, so a positive result after treatment does not necessarily mean the infection is still active. For that reason the rapid test is not used to check that treatment has worked, and doctors often pair it with a blood smear. Malaria typically causes fever with chills and shivering, headache, body ache and sweating. Confusion, yellow eyes, dark urine, breathlessness or very little urine are danger signs that need hospital care straight away.
Price: the Malaria Antigen Test (Rapid) costs ₹504 at Pure Bliss (MRP ₹630), with the sample collected at our Action Area 2, New Town centre or at your home.
Who this test is for
- Fever with chills and shivering where malaria is suspected
- A quick answer alongside a malaria smear
- Fever after travel to an area with more malaria
- Part of a fever panel ordered by a doctor
How to prepare, the sample, and when to expect the report
Preparation
No fasting is needed. Tell us about any antimalarial medicine taken recently, and about any malaria in the past few weeks.
Reporting time
Same day for morning samples; otherwise within 24 hours.
Sample
Blood, from a vein in the arm (whole blood).
Reading the result
Ranges vary by lab; your report shows the lab's reference range next to each value. The result is reported as positive or negative, with the species group where the kit distinguishes it. Ask your doctor to interpret the result.
Centre or home collection NABL-accredited Redcliffe Labs collection centre Most routine reports within 24 hoursHow collection works →
Related Tests
Malaria Antigen Test (Rapid) — common questions
Booking, preparation and reporting for the Malaria Antigen Test (Rapid) at Action Area 2, New Town.
Can the rapid test confirm that malaria has been cured?
No. Some parasite proteins stay in the blood for weeks after treatment, so the test can stay positive. Doctors use symptoms and, if needed, a blood smear to judge recovery.
Is the rapid test as reliable as the smear?
Each has strengths. The rapid test is quick and does not rely on spotting parasites, but can miss very low parasite levels. The smear shows species and parasite load. Doctors often use both.
Do I need to fast?
No. The sample can be given at any time of day.