Malaria/Babesia/Other Blood Parasites

Message

This is a time sensitvie test. Slides MUST be made within one hour of sample collection.

Test Code

MAL

Alias/See Also

Babesia Smear
Malaria-Babesia Exam
Filaria Smear

Preferred Specimen

Smears must be prepared within 1 hour of sample collection
5 mL whole blood collected in an EDTA (lavender-top) tube

Patient Preparation
Blood drawn 1 to 2 hours prior to expected chill will enhance recovery of malarial parasites by the laboratory

Minimum Volume

1 mL 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.

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

Slides
Slides must be made within one hour of collection.
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?)

Hemolysis; Clotted blood; Frozen blood; Age-deteriorated blood cells (EDTA blood older than 48 hours)

Methodology
Microscopic Examination with Giemsa stain. One negative observation cannot rule out blood parasites. Babesia and other blood parasites are noted and reported.

Setup Schedule

Set up: Mon-Sat night

Report Available

Next day

Reference Range

Negative

Clinical Significance

The identification of malarial parasites and other blood parasites is used to determine treatment and prognosis. Babesia and other blood parasite are noted and reported. Microfilaria can be detected from a giemsa stain. However, this test is not recommended for the detection of microfilaria. One negative observation cannot rule out blood parasites.

Performing Laboratory
Meritus Medical Laboratory 11110 Medical Campus Rd Hagerstown, MD 21742

Last Updated: December 28, 2023

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.