Blood Parasites

General Information

Lab Name

Blood Parasites Thick/Thin Smr

Lab Code

BLDP

Epic Name

Direct Exam Blood, Parasites

Description

Infectious Disease consultation is recommended.

R/O Microfilaria, R/O Trypanosomes and R/O Borrelia.

Note: For R/O malaria (Plasmodium spp.), see MALP

Synonyms

Brugia, filaria, filariasis, Loa loa, Mansonella, microfilaria, Onchocerca, Relapsing fever, Spirochetes, Trypanosoma, Wuchereria

Components

Guidelines

Method

Thick and Thin smear plus additional method(s) as indicated by parasites sought.

Reference Range

See individual components

Ref. Range Notes

Negative

Specimen Type: Blood
Collection: 3 mL blood in LAVENDER HEMOGARD tube
Handling Instructions: Note: Please indicate suspected parasite. For R/O malaria, see test code MALP.

UW-MT: Request STAT and transport immediately to the Microbiology Lab. Blood in EDTA (lavender top) should be received within 1 hour of collection and not more than 4 hours after. If EDTA cannot be transported within this time frame, send 4 stained thin smears (Wright’s or Giemsa stain) plus the EDTA tube at ambient temp. Transport slides in a sturdy container labeled BIOHAZARD. Thin smears will be read STAT daily. Thick smears and additional concentration method will be performed on next (non-holiday) weekday.

UWMC-NW: Request Stat and transport immediately to UWMC-NW main clinical laboratory. Thin smears should be prepared by UWMC-Hematology within 4 hours but can be prepared up to 24 hours. Send the smears and the blood sample to UWMC-Montlake microbiology at room temperature.

If the specimen is between 24 and 72 hours, send it directly to UWMC-Montlake microbiology. The specimen will be rejected if it is over 72 hours old.
Quantity: Requested: EDTA tube. Do not under fill
Minimum: 2 mL pediatric EDTA tube

Receiving Instructions: UW-MT instructions: Specimen accessioned in Microbiology.

HMC instructions: Accession in Microbiology or SPS. Send specimen and requisition copy to Hematology, where 4 thin and 4 thick smears are made and forwarded to Microbiology with the requisition copy and EDTA blood tube.

Lab Department

Microbiology(MC)

Frequency

daily

Available STAT?

Performing Location(s)

HMC	Microbiology 206-744-5858 325 9th Ave, Rm # GWH-47, Seattle, WA 98104-2420
UW-MT	Microbiology 206-520-4600 Clinical Lab, Room # NW177, University of Washington Medical Center, 1959 NE Pacific street, Seattle, WA 98195