Rapid diagnostic tests used to diagnose Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) malaria in the vast majority detect the Pf-specific histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2), whereas RDTs used to diagnose either Plasmodium vivax (Pv) or malaria caused by any human Plasmodium species target the conserved essential enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). This evidence concerns the gene HDGFL2 and malaria.