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Malaria / Babesia / Other Blood Parasites
Test CodeMAL
Alias/See Also
Malaria, Malaria smear, Malaria ID, Malaria Parasites, Plasmodium species
Preferred Specimen
Two thin and two thick smears prepared from finger stick
Instructions
Slides are to be 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. Prepare fresh finger stick thin smears and thick smears.
A Malaria History Form is to be completed for each patient.
Deliver to the laboratory promptly.
- Thin smears: Collect a small drop of blood near one end of a slide, and then spread the blood over the surface with a second slide. The thin, feathered end should be at least 2 cm long, and the film should occupy the central area of the slide, with free margins on each side.
- Thick smears: Prepare by touching the slide to the drop of blood (which should be rounded up on the finger). Rotate the slide to form a circular film about the size of a dime that is made up barely visible thorough wet smear. Allow for complete air-drying of smears.
A Malaria History Form is to be completed for each patient.
Deliver to the laboratory promptly.
Transport Container
Slide
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 1 month, Refrigerated: unacceptable, Frozen: unacceptable
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Improperly made slides are unacceptable.
Limitations
Treatment with anti-malarial or other antiparasitic drugs may reduce the sensitivity of the test. Organisms are most likely to be detected if the smears are obtained immediately upon the onset of fever, or immediately before the fever is anticipated. In patients with a strong clinical history, but repeatedly negative results, multiple sampling throughout the fever may prove successful.
Reference Range
No parasite seen
