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Parasite: Thick and Thin Blood Smears

Laboratory tests are performed to diagnose malaria, monitor for relapses, and determine drug susceptibility of the parasite. Thick and thin blood smears are used for diagnosis by examining stained blood slides under a microscope for infected blood cells and parasites. Rapid diagnostic tests detect malaria antigens in blood samples via a color change on test strips. Molecular tests like PCR amplify parasite DNA to detect and identify Plasmodium species, helping diagnosis and determining species when smears are unclear. Antibody tests detect prior exposure by finding antibodies produced in response to infection, but cannot diagnose acute cases. Specialized labs can test parasites to determine drug susceptibility by observing drug effects on cultured parasites or detecting resistance markers in parasite DNA.

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41 views1 page

Parasite: Thick and Thin Blood Smears

Laboratory tests are performed to diagnose malaria, monitor for relapses, and determine drug susceptibility of the parasite. Thick and thin blood smears are used for diagnosis by examining stained blood slides under a microscope for infected blood cells and parasites. Rapid diagnostic tests detect malaria antigens in blood samples via a color change on test strips. Molecular tests like PCR amplify parasite DNA to detect and identify Plasmodium species, helping diagnosis and determining species when smears are unclear. Antibody tests detect prior exposure by finding antibodies produced in response to infection, but cannot diagnose acute cases. Specialized labs can test parasites to determine drug susceptibility by observing drug effects on cultured parasites or detecting resistance markers in parasite DNA.

Uploaded by

ELKING
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Laboratory Tests

Testing is performed to help diagnose malaria, to monitor for relapses, and to determine drug susceptibility of
the parasitecausing the infection.
Thick and thin blood smears
Diagnosis of malaria involves performing blood smears. For a blood smear, a drop of blood is applied to and spread
onto a glass slide. It is then treated with a special stain and examined under a microscope for the morphology of
infected blood cells and the parasite. Typically, two thick smears and two thin smears are prepared.

Rapid diagnostic tests (antigen testing)


When microscopy is not readily available, rapid diagnostic tests may be used instead of blood smears. These tests
detect malaria antigens (proteins) in a sample of a person's blood (usually taken with a fingerstick) and indicate a
positive result by a color change on the testing strip. They are sometimes called "dipstick" tests.

Molecular tests (Polymerase chain reaction, PCR)


The polymerase chain reaction is a laboratory method that amplifies the parasite's DNA and allows detection and
identification of the Plasmodium species. This test can be used to confirm the diagnosis in laboratories where there is
a lack of training and experience in the microscopic examination for malaria. It can also be used to determine
the Plasmodium species if the results of a blood smear are unclear.

Antibody tests (serology)


Serology tests detect antibodies in the blood that are produced by the body in response to a malaria infection. They
cannot diagnose an acute infection but help determine if a person was previously exposed.

Susceptibility testing
Some malarial parasites have become resistant to the drugs commonly used to treat the infections. Some specialized
laboratories can test the parasites from an infected person to determine their drug susceptibility. This can be done
either by growing the parasites in the presence of increasing amounts of the drug and observing the effect of the drug
on the parasite or by testing the DNA of the parasite to detect markers that indicate resistance.

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