PAGE EXPIRES: June 2000
SYNONYMS: Malaria examination
COMPONENT TESTS: None (single test)
SCHEDULE: As received; turnaround time: 3 working days
SPECIMEN AND COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS:
CAUSES FOR REJECTION: Improperly labeled specimen; previously fixed slides; blood smears older than 48 hours prior to shipping
STORAGE AND SHIPPING: Refrigerate; avoid heat; must ship fresh, less than 48 hours old smears only
USES: Evaluation of numerous blood borne parasitic diseases
NORMAL VALUES: Negative smear
METHOD: Giemsa staining for detection of malaria parasites and/or other blood parasites
DESCRIPTION AND COMMENTS: The smear can be diagnostic in a number of infections such as malaria, babesiosis, trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and bartonellosis. When evaluating for malaria, draw blood just prior to anticipated fever spike. For other parasites, draw the sample during the fever spike. In filariasis, the time of collection should be coordinated with the diurnal variation in the number of organisms in peripheral blood. Homo flagellates may be diagnosed by culture. Sterile, heparinized blood is the proper specimen. A single negative study does not rule out presence of disease.