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Malaria Smear/ Blood smear for malarial parasites/ malarial parasites |
| Test | Malaria Smear/ Blood smear for malarial parasites/ malarial parasites |
| Indication | Diagnose malaria, parasitic infestation of blood; evaluate febrile disease of unknown origin. |
| Physiology | Proper therapy depends upon identification of the specific variety of malaria parasite. Release of trophozoites and RBC debris result in a febrile response. Periodicity of fever correlates with type of malaria. Parasites are most likely to be detected just before onset of fever which is predictable in many cases. Multiple sampling at different times in the fever cycle may prove successful results. |
| Test Method | Microscopic examination of thick and thin peripheral blood smears stained with Romanovsky dye. Thick smears are more difficult to interpret but greatly increase sensitivity. Thick smears require considerable experience with malaria. Recent techniques: DNA hybridization probes for detection of malarial parasites |
| Related Tests | Parasite Antibodies, Peripheral Blood/Red blood cell Morphology |
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