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Time Sensitive

Ordering Recommendation

Screen for malaria. Patient's travel history is necessary to aid in test interpretation.

New York DOH Approval Status

This test is New York state approved.

Specimen Required

Patient Preparation
Collect

Lavender (EDTA) or pink (K2EDTA).

Specimen Preparation

Transport 5 mL whole blood (Min: 1 mL). Extended exposure to EDTA anticoagulants can result in altered parasite morphology. For best results, send five (5) thin blood smears (unstained, unfixed) AND five (5) thick smears (unstained, unfixed) in addition to whole blood. Thin and thick blood smears should be prepared immediately or within 1 hour after collection.
Thin smears are made as per routine hematology differentials. Thick smears are made by dropping 10 to 20 µL of blood onto a slide and spreading it into a dime-sized area with a glass, wooden, or plastic applicator.
For instructions on preparation of thick and thin smears, see https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/diagnosticProcedures/blood/specimenproc.html.
Label and transport slides in slide holders. Specimen must be received within 24 hours of collection.

Storage/Transport Temperature

Room temperature.

Unacceptable Conditions

Whole blood in anticoagulants other than EDTA or K2EDTA.

Remarks

Rapid diagnosis of malaria is critical for appropriate patient management. Specimens for Malaria and Babesia are for confirmation only from clients outside of the immediate Salt Lake City, Utah area. Travel history required.

Stability

Whole blood: Ambient: 24 hours; Refrigerated: Unacceptable; Frozen: Unacceptable.
Slides:
Ambient: 1 week; Refrigerated: Unacceptable; Frozen: Unacceptable

Methodology

Qualitative Immunochromatography/Stain

Performed

Sun-Sat

Reported

1-2 days

Reference Interval

Negative

Interpretive Data



Compliance Category

FDA

Note

The rapid screen cannot detect parasitemia of less than 0.5 percent. The rapid screen result should not be used for therapeutic monitoring. Stat testing is performed on the rapid screen only

Hotline History

N/A

CPT Codes

87899; 87207

Components

Component Test Code* Component Chart Name LOINC
0049025 Parasites Smear (Giemsa Stain), Blood 51714-4
2001548 Malaria, Rapid Screen 46094-9
* Component test codes cannot be used to order tests. The information provided here is not sufficient for interface builds; for a complete test mix, please click the sidebar link to access the Interface Map.

Aliases

  • Giemsa Stain for Malaria
  • HRP2
  • P falciparum HRP2 antigen detection
Malaria, Rapid Screen and Giemsa Stain