In Vitro Antimalarial Drug Sensitivity Testing For Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax

Aim of this study was to standardize the Antimalarial drug sensitivity testing using microtitre plate method similar to WHO III plate method. The study was conducted over a period of two years from January 2013 to December 2014. Total 44 patient samples were included in this study (22 were P. falciparum and 22 were P. vivax). 68.18% of P. falciparum blood samples showed resistance to chloroquine. Resistance was also detected for amodiaquine (18.18%) and sulfadoxine / pyrimethamine (15%). No resistance was detected for artemisinin, mefloquine and quinine. P. vivax showed 27.73% resistance to chloroquine and 13.64% resistance to primaquine. No resistance was found for other antimalarial drugs. Chloroquine resistance has developed because of indiscrimate use of this drug. Proper diagnosis of malaria and drug sensitivity testing should be done routinely to prevent emergence of resistance to antimalarial drugs. Monotherapy should be avoided and combined drug therapy will reduce chances of emergence of drug resistance.