Malaria Exam Thick & Thin Smears and Immunoassay

3 mL Lavender Hemogard (EDTA) and if possible, also send 4 fingerstick thin blood smears.

UW-MT/UW-NW: This is an unshared sample;if other testing is required additional Lavender tube(s) should be collected.

UW-MT:

Stability for Immunoassay is 72 hours

Stability for whole blood and unstained smears is 4 hours.

Request STAT and transport immediately to the Microbiology Lab. Blood in EDTA (lavender top) should be received within 4 hours. If specimen collected outside of the Montlake campus, send 4 stained thin smears (Wright’s or Giemsa stain) plus the EDTA tube at room temp.(UW Ambulatory Labs, send specimen by cab to UW-Montlake Microbiology to ensure timely receipt). Transport slides in a sturdy container labeled BIOHAZARD. Thin smears will be read STAT and thick smears will be read within 24 hours. Malaria immunoassay is performed in addition to smear microscopy. If blood is received outside the 4 hour window but before 72 hours, please make and stain smears and send specimen to Montlake for evaluation. Parasite morphology is affected by the presence of anticoagulant and speciation may not be possible after 4 hours. Percent parasitemia is also affected and may not be possible.

HMC: 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 timeframe, send 4 stained thin smears (Wright’s or Giemsa stain) plus the EDTA tube at refrigerated temp. Transport slides in a sturdy container labeled BIOHAZARD. One Wright’s (or Giemsa) stained thin smear will be read STAT; additional STAT smears within 24 hours require approval of Lab Med Resident or Micro Lab Director. Giemsa thick smears & (if Wright’s stain thin smear read STAT) Giemsa thin smears are read on the next (non-holiday) weekday. Malaria immunoassay is performed in addition to smear microscopy once per 24 hour period.

UW-NW: Request STAT and transport immediately to the UW-NW main clinical laboratory. Sample will be sent to UW-MT. See UW-MT details for further information.

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.

UW-NW Instructions: Accession sample at UW-NW and label STAT. If a routine courier run to UW-MT is scheduled within 2 hours from received time, send on routine courier. Otherwise, request and send via an on demand courier (2 hour pick-up time frame).