The presence of malaria antigens such as pan-Plasmodium aldolase and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) indicate either an active infection or parasite clearance within the past 1–2 weeks14, whereas the P. falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) antigen is found in blood during active infection, but also for several months following parasite clearance15. Here, HDGFL2 is linked to malaria.