Table 5.

The final optimized lysis buffer performs similarly for purification of parasite DNA and RNA as a previously reported new extraction method (NEM) for RNA-based ultrasensitive detection of malaria from dried blood spots [17]

	3 M GuSCN + 16.7% ISOH			NEM lysis buffer
Reverse-transcriptase	No	Yes	∆CT	No	Yes	∆CT
Average Ct for Pf 18S rDNA (± SD)	27.7 (± .2)	21.6 (± .3)	6.1	27.6 (± .1)	21.4 (± .2)	6.2

Experiments done with samples at parasite density of 10,000 parasites/mL

Pf, Plasmodium falciparum; GuSCN, guanidine thiocyanate; ISOH, isopropanol; SD, standard deviation; Ct, cycle threshold