RDTs can be used to distinguish fevers caused by malaria parasites from those caused by other illnesses, such as meningitis and acute respiratory infection (that cause symptoms similar to malaria). RDTs can thus help to target anti-malarial treatment (ACTs) to patients who really have malaria. When RDTs shows that febrile patient does not have malaria, that patient is more likely to seek diagnosis and treatment for the illness he/she does have.

Positive results indicate the presence of malaria parasites and negative implies absence of malaria parasites.