Search our Test Catalog. Specify what to search (name, test code, titles, everywhere) and how to search (begins with, contains)

Unit Code 9240:
Malaria/Babesia Smear

Print Friendly View
Print Page Email Page

Useful For

The thick and thin Giemsa-stained malaria smears are not only useful

for the rapid and accurate detection and species identification of

Plasmodium, but also can be used to detect babesia, trypanosomes,

and some species of microfilariae.

Clinical Information

Malaria parasites undergo a life cycle which includes sexual mating

of gametocytes in mosquitos and asexual replication in the

erythrocytes of humans who have been infected by the bites of

mosquitos.

 

Infected erythrocytes rupture producing anemia and initiating the

release of cytokines including tumor necrosis factor.

 

Malaria "pigment" and sluggish cerebral blood flow cause cerebral

edema. Pulmonary and renal failures are dire consequences of malaria

due to Plasmodium falciparum  which can be a life-threatening infection.

 

It is crucial to suspect malaria in any febrile patient who has

been in an endemic area and to distinguish Plasmodium falciparum

from other species since Plasmodium falciparum can cause life-

threatening infections and is resistant to many commonly used

antimalarial agents such as chloroquine.

Reference Values

Negative

If positive, organism identified

Interpretation

A positive smear indicates infection with the species of Plasmodium

identified or with babesia.

 

Species identification can indicate the appropriate antimalarial

therapy.

Cautions

For accurate detection of Plasmodium, thick smears must be examined.

 

Any exam which does not include a thick smear cannot be considered

adequate.

 

On rare occasions, LightCycler polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may

be used to confirm difficult smears.

Clinical Reference

Hoffman SL:  Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of malaria. Med

Clin North Am 1992;76:1327-1355

Key