Blood parasite (screen)

Lab Web Portal

HL7 EHR/LIMS

• None

• Giemsa-stained thick and thin Smears AND
• EDTA blood, 3 - 5 mL

• Specimen must be labeled with at least two unique patient identifiers and match accompanying PH-4182 Clinical Submission Requisition.

• Prepare Thick and Thin Smears and stain with Giesma stain prior to shipment.

• Store EDTA specimens at 2 - 8°C prior to shipment.

• Place slides in plastic or cardboard slide holder before packing for shipping.
• Ship specimens at 2 - 8°C.
• All infectious substance shipments must conform to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR 49 C.F.R. Parts 171-180). 

• Acceptable criteria for specimen testing:  

-  Thick and thin blood smears must be sent for examination for the presence of blood parasites. If species-level determination cannot be made based upon morphological characteristics, additional testing may occur.  Malaria PCR may be performed on EDTA blood when Plasmodium infection is suspected

-  From a patient with a febrile illness who is strongly suspected of having                        malaria (regardless of blood smear result) or a species that cannot be                          determined after careful examination. 

-  From donors to a patient who developed malaria following blood                                    transfusion. 

-  If Ebola is suspected,  it should be ruled out before being sent for malaria                    testing.

• Unsatisfactory specimens include, but may not be limited to:

-  Specimen was broken or leaked in transit

-  The incorrect preservative was used

-  The specimen was greater than four (4) months old, if PCR testing is                              required. 

-  Specimen is not indentified properly (i.e. information does not match the                   accompanying requisition)

-  Insufficient amount of specimen submitted for testing

• Nashville