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Blood/Tissue Parasite Stain : 1000700
Message1 Blood with anticoagulant present should have smears prepared within one hour to ensure that Schuffner's dots (stippling) can be seen.
2 Prolonged exposure to EDTA can cause malarial parasites to have atypical morphology.
3. An adequate examination for malaria requires submission of both thick and thin smears.
2 Prolonged exposure to EDTA can cause malarial parasites to have atypical morphology.
3. An adequate examination for malaria requires submission of both thick and thin smears.
Test Code
PARST or 1000700
Alias/See Also
Giemsa Stain; Malaria Smear; Trypanosomiasis; Babesia Smear; Plasmodium species; Parasite Blood Smear
CPT Codes
87207
Instructions
Peripheral blood samples should be collected at 6-12 hour intervals over several days.
Peripheral Blood:
1. Collect:
a. Preferred: fresh blood sample using a needle and syringe or by finger stick
b. Acceptable (but far less preferrable): EDTA Vacutainer tube.
2. At the bedside prepare thick and thin blood smears in the following fashion:
a. Thin Film-Prepare as for a routine hematology examination.
b. Thick Film-Place 1-2 small drops on a glass slide, and using the edge of another slide, distribute the blood over an area the size of a dime. The smear should be thin enough that printing can barely be read through it. Do not make the smears too thick!
3. Allow the smears to air dry (thick films require 2-3 hours). Do NOT fix thick films or otherwise allow them to come in contact with alcohol.
4. Place in a cardboard slide folder, securely fasten, and submit.
Bone Marrow:
Prepare smears in histology processing area of the laboratory, alcohol fix and submit in a slide folder.
Tissue: Biopsy specimens may also be sent.
Peripheral Blood:
1. Collect:
a. Preferred: fresh blood sample using a needle and syringe or by finger stick
b. Acceptable (but far less preferrable): EDTA Vacutainer tube.
2. At the bedside prepare thick and thin blood smears in the following fashion:
a. Thin Film-Prepare as for a routine hematology examination.
b. Thick Film-Place 1-2 small drops on a glass slide, and using the edge of another slide, distribute the blood over an area the size of a dime. The smear should be thin enough that printing can barely be read through it. Do not make the smears too thick!
3. Allow the smears to air dry (thick films require 2-3 hours). Do NOT fix thick films or otherwise allow them to come in contact with alcohol.
4. Place in a cardboard slide folder, securely fasten, and submit.
Bone Marrow:
Prepare smears in histology processing area of the laboratory, alcohol fix and submit in a slide folder.
Tissue: Biopsy specimens may also be sent.
Transport Container
Blood: Prepare and send a minimum of 2 blood slides (thick and thin) according to collection instructions and a lavender top tube (Min. 1 mL). Bone Marrow or Tissue Biopsy may also be sent.
Transport Temperature
Ambient.
Specimen Stability
Transport as quickly as possible. Note: Malaria smears are considered a STAT procedure and should be prepared and stained as soon as possible.
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Hemolyzed bood must be recollected.
Methodology
Giemsa Stain
Setup Schedule
Sunday - Saturday
Report Available
1 day
Reference Range
No parasite detected.
Clinical Significance
Giemsa stain for the detection of blood parasites, including malaria, babesia, trypanosomes and microfilaria. May also be used to detect Leishmania in tissue and histoplasmosis in bone marrow.
Performing Laboratory
med fusion
