South Bend Medical Foundation - Your Community Laboratory

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Test Name:
Parasite Examination, Whole Blood

• SBMF No:
  27023
• Performance Lab Name:
  Microbiology
• Test Mnemonic:
  BLD PARA
• ABN:
  Not required
• CPT Code:
  87207
• LOINC Code:
  17784-0
• Also Known As:
  Malarial Smear
  Thick and Thin Smears for Blood Parasites
  Blood Smear for Parasites
  Filaria Smear
  Microfilaria smear
  Plasmodium smear
  Trypanosome smear
• Spec Type:
  Thick and thin smears, AND
  Whole blood
• Spec Container:
  Glass slides (thick and thin smears), AND
  Lavender top (EDTA) tube
• Pref Vol:
  Four (4) blood smears (2 thick, 2 thin), AND
  4.0 mL Whole blood (EDTA)
• Min Vol:
  Two (2) blood smears (1 thick, 1 thin)
• Fasting:
  No
• Patient Prep:
  If patient's fever course is predictable, collect blood immediately before time of expected fever
  If fever unpredictable, collect blood at beginning of temperature rise
• Spec Collect:
  

  Use syringe for specimen collection
  Immediately transfer blood to lavender top tube
  Gently invert tube 8 times
  Use blood remaining in syringe for smears:

  • Thin smear: Small blood drop on glass slide spread over length of slide
  • Thick smear: Puddle several small drops of blood into dime-sized area and allow to dry for at least 1 hour
  • Refer to CDC DPDx Diagnostic Procedures for Blood Specimens - Specimen Processing

  Indicate if specific parasite is suspected
  For malaria, collect initial specimen immediately
  For additional information, see the CDC Bench aid "Laboratory Diagnosis of Malaria; Preparation of Blood Smears"

• Spec Store Transport:
  Smears: room temperature
  Tube of whole blood: refrigerated
• Spec Stability:
  Smears: 24 hours room temperature (20-30°C)
  Whole blood: 24 hours refrigerated (2-8°C)
• Spec Remarks:
  If patient has traveled to a malaria endemic area, the date and area traveled should be specified on the requisition
• Methodology:
  Microscopic Examination
• Use:
  Microscopic examination of blood parasites used to establish the diagnosis of malaria or other parasitic blood infection.
• Clinical Significance:
  Blood and tissue parasites whose diagnostic forms circulate in the peripheral blood are generally diagnosed by the demonstration of parasites in Giemsa stained thick or thin films of blood.
• Reference Range:
  No blood parasites observed
• Additional Test Info:
  One negative result does not rule out the possibility of parasitic infestation. If protozoal, filarial, or trypanosomal infection is strongly suspected, test should be performed at least three times with samples obtained at different times in the fever cycle.
• Day Run:
  Mon-Sat
• Time Run:
  Day shift, Second shift, Third shift
• Time Reported:
  Positive: Prelim on day 1, final when confirmed
  Negative: Final after 1 day
• Test Type:
  PARASITE