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Test Code MAL Malaria/Blood Parasites Exam

Specimen Type

3 mL EDTA.

Preferred Collection Container

LAV

Collection Instructions

Malaria: Blood should be drawn half way between fever spikes. Specimens should be taken at intervals of 6-18 hours for three successive days. W. bancrofti and Brugia spp filarial infections: Blood should be drawn at night – 8pm to midnight. Loa loa: Blood should be drawn midday – 10am to 2 pm. Mansonella and Onchocerca: Blood can be drawn at any time.

Collection Volume

3 mL EDTA tube

Minimum Collection Volume

3 mL EDTA tube

Rejection Criteria

Hemolyzed, clotted, diluted with I.V. fluid, tube that is not filled with minimum volume, improperly collected slide preparations, unlabelled specimen, incomplete requisition, improperly labeled.

Specimen Storage and Stability

Smear: < 2 hours at room temperature; Antigen: Blood may be stored up to 3 days at 2C – 30C.

Day(s) and Time(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday; first and second Shifts

Alias

Malaria Smear; Blood Smear for Malarial Parasites; Malarial Parasites; Blood Parasite Exam; Malaria Antigen

Ordering Info

NOTE: All positive malarial smears will be sent out for Malaria, Molecular Detection, PCR testing to confirm species idetification and rule out mixed infections.

EPIC Code

LAB883

Methodology

Antigen: Immunochromatographic Membrane

Acceptable Collection Container

LAV (EDTA)

Additional Information

One negative result does not rule out the possibility of parasitic infection. If protozoal, filarial, or trypanosomal infection is strongly suspected, test should be performed at least 3 times with samples obtained at different times in the fever cycle.

Transport

Specimen should arrive in laboratory within 1 hour after collection.

STAT Availability

No

Turn Around Time

Preliminary report will be issued on first and second shifts. Final report reported on first shift.

Lab Department

Microbiology