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Malaria/Babesia/Other Blood Parasites : 1000700
Test CodePARST or 1000700
Alias/See Also
Blood Parasites; Plasmodium sp.; Babesia sp.; Trypanosoma sp.; Leishmania sp.
CPT Codes
87207
Preferred Specimen
At least 2 thick (1 thick minimum) and 2 thin (1 thin minimum) smears prepared from capillary source (finger) and 1 whole blood (1 tube minimum) EDTA (lavender-top) tube
Minimum Volume
A minimum of one thick and one thin smear and 1 tube EDTA whole blood
Instructions
Blood samples are to be taken, and slides prepared when the patient
presents with symptoms of malaria, and every 6 hours for 36 hours.
Specimens obtained during the febrile state yield the greatest number of
parasites in circulating blood.
It is very important that at least one thick and one thin blood film smear
must be submitted on two separate glass slides with one frosted end, in
addition to the EDTA (lavender-top) tube. One slide should be smeared as is
done with a differential exam and one slide should have a drop of blood
dried in an area about the size of a dime.
Note: Travel history (name of country and when visited) and anti- malarial
agents should be noted on the requisition.
presents with symptoms of malaria, and every 6 hours for 36 hours.
Specimens obtained during the febrile state yield the greatest number of
parasites in circulating blood.
It is very important that at least one thick and one thin blood film smear
must be submitted on two separate glass slides with one frosted end, in
addition to the EDTA (lavender-top) tube. One slide should be smeared as is
done with a differential exam and one slide should have a drop of blood
dried in an area about the size of a dime.
Note: Travel history (name of country and when visited) and anti- malarial
agents should be noted on the requisition.
Transport Container
Slides in slide holders and an EDTA (lavender-top) tube
Transport Temperature
Room temperature
Specimen Stability
Slides:
Room temperature: 30 days
Refrigerated: Unacceptable
Frozen: Unacceptable
Whole blood:
Room temperature: 24 hours
Refrigerated: Unacceptable
Frozen: Unacceptable
Room temperature: 30 days
Refrigerated: Unacceptable
Frozen: Unacceptable
Whole blood:
Room temperature: 24 hours
Refrigerated: Unacceptable
Frozen: Unacceptable
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Hemolyzed specimens; Clotted specimens; Specimens out of stability
Methodology
Microscopic Examination of stained slides with Giemsa stain.
Setup Schedule
Sunday - Saturday
Report Available
1 day
Reference Range
Negative
Clinical Significance
The identification of malarial parasites, Babesia, and other blood parasites is used to determine treatment and prognosis. Calculating percent parasitemia is helpful in monitoring the therapeutic response. Microfilaria can be detected from a Giemsa stain, but this test is not recommended for microfilaria detection. One negative result cannot rule out infection.
Resources:
The CDC Malaria Hotline at 770-488-7788
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. DPDx www.cdc.gov/dpdx/index.html
Resources:
The CDC Malaria Hotline at 770-488-7788
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. DPDx www.cdc.gov/dpdx/index.html
Performing Laboratory
med fusion
