Laboratory Medicine
Test Directory / Malaria parasites
Malaria parasites
EDTA
| Test | Malaria parasites |
|---|---|
| Common Abbreviations | MP |
| Profile | FBC & routine blood film added on the same sample |
| Clinical Indication | Likely affected persons will be those who have visited malaria affected areas. Thin and thick films are morphologically assessed for the presence of malaria parasites. An antigen test is also used as a supplemental test. |
| Specimen Type | |
| Sample Type | EDTA |
| Minimum Volume | 1 x 3 mL (adult) 1 x 0.5 mL (paed) |
| Special Precautions | Must be at least half filled |
| Stability | 3 hours |
| Turnaround Time | 1-2 hours ( all treated as urgent, please inform Haematology BMS staff) |
| Laboratory | York & Scarborough Hospital |
| Reference Interval | Qualitative |
| Limitations | A single test where no parasites are detected cannot rule out malaria. Always repeat for confirmation, especially if clinical sysmptoms persist. |
| Additional Information | Please include details of which country the patient has travelled in. A list of malaria affected areas can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/travelers/country_table/a.html |
