Table 3. Assessment of response to anti-parasitic treatment in the chronic phase.

Needs for Diagnosis	Medical conduct	Samples and Sampling	Infrastructure	Technical Skills	Test Site	Reading	Taxonomic Diagnosis	Sensitivity	Specificity
Assess antiparasitic therapeutic response (based on persistent negativization of parasitemia or reduced parasitic load evaluation though molecular biology methods) 1	Direct or indirect demonstration of the presence of the parasite in blood or tissue: (i) Before, during, and after treatment (end point >12 months); ii) Therapeutic failure (through the presence of the parasite or parasitic DNA/ antigens in blood)	2–3 samples (before and after treatment), Ideal: blood (maximum of 5 mL [adults] and 2 mL [children]); Ideal: urine	Reference center, PHC and second level of care. Ideally: no cold chain; Acceptable: minimum cold chain (2°C–8°C); Unacceptable: conservation < 0°C (freezer)	GLP-trained technical staff with-quality certification	Any health facility accessible and convenient for the patient; Maximum time for result: 1 week	Quantitative/qualitative	Ideal: taxonomic diagnosis (in the case of therapeutic failure); Acceptable: detects all circulating strains, but no taxonomic diagnosis	>95%	100%

¹There is no consensus on the definition of cure, but experts agree that the persistent negativization of parasitemia is the most appropriate marker [23].