Do not transfer blood to other containers. Send specimen in original tube.
Slides (2 thin blood films and 2 thick blood films):
Slides must be clean and grease-free
Blood films should be made from fresh blood using fingerstick or drops of blood from needle following venipuncture. However, EDTA anticoagulated blood is also acceptable
Prepare thin blood films as follows:
Prepare 2 thin smears with the mini prep-slide machine. OR
Prepare a thin film with a "feathered edge" that is no more than a single cell thick
Allow the film to thoroughly air dry and then fix by briefly immersing in either absolute or 95% methyl alcohol
Allow to air dry after fixation
Prepare thick blood films as follows:
Place a large drop of blood (approximately the size of a dime and preferably from a fingerstick) on a slide
Using a corner of a second slide spread the drop in a circular motion while applying firm pressure to literally scratch the blood onto the carrier slide. This technique allows the blood to dry quickly and adhere well to the slide. Use approximately 20 circular sweeps with the second slide. The drop of blood should be about the size of a quarter when finished
Do not fix. Air dry thoroughly (approximately 45 minutes) before placing in transport container.
Minimum Sample Volume
Blood: 0.5 mL
Slides: 2 thin blood films and 2 thick blood films
Stability
Refrigerated (preferred): Not mentioned
Unacceptable Specimen Conditions
Gross hemolysis
Gross lipemia
Limitations
For most sensitive detection of Plasmodium, thick smears must be examined
Any exam that does not include a thick smear cannot be considered adequate
Since the degree of parasitemia may change rapidly due to natural parasite replication and administration of antimalarial therapies, it is most useful to calculate the percentage of infected cells immediately after the blood is drawn and malaria parasites are detected. A percent parasitemia that is calculated more than 8 hours after the blood is drawn will not accurately reflect the patient's current state of parasitemia
Calculation of the percent parasitemia may not be possible or may be inaccurate if malaria parasites have degraded or have altered morphology due to age of the specimen or suboptimal transportation conditions.
