![]() The IFA procedure can be used to determine if a patient has been infected with Plasmodium. Malaria antibody detection is performed using the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test. The laboratories associated with these health-care settings may now use an RDT to more rapidly determine if their patients are infected with malaria. These practices have resulted in long delays in diagnosis. Although this practice is discouraged, many healthcare settings either save blood samples for malaria microscopy until a qualified person is available to perform the test, or send the blood samples to commercial or reference laboratories. High-quality malaria microscopy is not always immediately available in every clinical setting where patients might seek medical attention. falciparum for use as a positive control. ![]() It is recommended that the laboratory maintain a supply of blood containing P. After 15 minutes, the presence of specific bands in the test card window indicate whether the patient is infected with Plasmodium falciparum or one of the other 3 species of human malaria. TechniqueĪ blood specimen collected from the patient is applied to the sample pad on the test card along with certain reagents. RDTs have recently become available in the United States. However, species determination might be more difficult.Ī Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) is an alternate way of quickly establishing the diagnosis of malaria infection by detecting specific malaria antigens in a person’s blood. (See DPDx Plasmodium species comparison chart) Wright’s stain, which is commonly used in hospital laboratories for examining blood (called a CBC with manual differential), can be used if Giemsa stain is not available. Visual criteria are used to detect malaria parasites and to differentiate (when possible) the various species. (See DPDx specimen preparation) A blood specimen collected from the patient is spread as a thick or thin blood smear, stained with a Romanovsky stain (most often Giemsa), and examined with a 100X oil immersion objective. It is vital that health-care providers receive results from these tests within hours in order to appropriately treat their patients infected with malaria. In addition, these tests should not be sent out to reference laboratories with results available only days to weeks later. ![]() They should not be saved for the most qualified staff to perform or batched for convenience. These tests should be performed immediately when ordered by a health-care provider. ![]() Microscopic examination remains the “gold standard” for laboratory confirmation of malaria. ![]()
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