Abstract: Objective To develop a new method based on reverse transcr iptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-P CR)for detecting plasmodium falciparum(p.f).Methods Primers were designed according to the asex ual stage p.f SSU rRNA g ene.RTCPCR system was established and applied to detect p.f.Results A 359bp fragment from cultered p.f was amplified,while the extracted RNA from P.vivas and the normal blood sample could not.The amlified fragments was confirmed by means of restriction endonuclease digestion.As little as RNA of 0.34 paraste was suffi-cient for detection by RT-PCR assay.The detection sensitivity of RT-PCCR could by higer than that of PCR.Conclusion The RT-PCR assay was specific and sensitive in the detection of p.f.