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22690 Malaria/Blood Parasite Smears

Malaria/Blood Parasite Smears
Test Code: MALARIA
Synonyms/Keywords
Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malarie, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium falciparum, Blood Parasite​
Specimen Requirements
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fasting Required Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
​No​Whole BloodEDTA Lavender Top Tube (LTT)​​4 thick smears and 4 thin smears​2 thick smears and 2 thin smears​2 thick smears and 2 thin smears​
Collection Processing Instructions
Prepare thick and thin blood smears as soon as possible, preferably within 4 hours of collection. Avoid making the thick smears too thick; one should be able to read print through the blood.  Contact Clinical Microscopic (800-222-5835, ext. 16383) with questions concerning the making of smears. Identification of intra-cellular pathogens may be compromised in older blood specimens. Transport unstained, air-dried smears at room temperature in a slide holder.
 
Optimum draw time is about midway between chills, however, blood collection should be performed immediately upon first suspicion of malaria. Furthermore, since single blood smears may not reveal organisms, successive smears at 6, 12, or 24 hours are sometimes necessary. Samples must be collected prior to administration of any anti-malarial drugs.​
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
​Thick Smears ​Ambient ​2 weeks
​Thin Smears ​Ambient ​2 weeks
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
​Marshfield ​Monday - Friday ​1 day Light Microscopy-May Grunwald Giemsa Stain​
Reference Range Information
 
Performing Location Reference Range
​Marshfield​Negative
See Critical Value List for list of current critical values​ ​
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
​87207 ​ ​ ​ ​
Synonyms/Keywords
Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malarie, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium falciparum, Blood Parasite​
Ordering Applications
Ordering Application Description
COM ​Malaria/Blood Parasite Smears
​Cerner ​Malaria/Blood Parasite Smears
If the ordering application you are looking for is not listed, contact your local laboratory for assistance.
Specimen Requirements
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fasting Required Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
​No​Whole BloodEDTA Lavender Top Tube (LTT)​​4 thick smears and 4 thin smears​2 thick smears and 2 thin smears​2 thick smears and 2 thin smears​
Collection Processing
Prepare thick and thin blood smears as soon as possible, preferably within 4 hours of collection. Avoid making the thick smears too thick; one should be able to read print through the blood.  Contact Clinical Microscopic (800-222-5835, ext. 16383) with questions concerning the making of smears. Identification of intra-cellular pathogens may be compromised in older blood specimens. Transport unstained, air-dried smears at room temperature in a slide holder.
 
Optimum draw time is about midway between chills, however, blood collection should be performed immediately upon first suspicion of malaria. Furthermore, since single blood smears may not reveal organisms, successive smears at 6, 12, or 24 hours are sometimes necessary. Samples must be collected prior to administration of any anti-malarial drugs.​
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
​Thick Smears ​Ambient ​2 weeks
​Thin Smears ​Ambient ​2 weeks
Reference Range Information
 
Performing Location Reference Range
​Marshfield​Negative
See Critical Value List for list of current critical values​ ​
For more information visit:
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
​Marshfield ​Monday - Friday ​1 day Light Microscopy-May Grunwald Giemsa Stain​
For billing questions, see Contacts
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
​87207 ​ ​ ​ ​
For most current information refer to the Marshfield Laboratory online reference manual.