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Blood Parasite Exam (8000100687)
Test Mnemonic:

O BP
Specimen Requirements:

Deliver to Galveston Lab within 2 hours. Otherwise, make 3 thin and 3 thick smears and send along with blood tube.
Collection:

 

Lavender topped tubes (EDTA). Routine venipuncture; specimens should be collected every six hours over a 24-hour period prior to antimalarial drug administration.

 
Container:

EDTA
Minimum Volume:

4ml of whole blood
Storage/Transport:

 

Transport immediately, do not refrigerate
Stability:

2 hours

Causes for Rejection:

Improper tube collected. Specimen container unlabeled or labeled incorrectly. Missing date or time of collection.
Methodology:

Rapid Malaria Antingen test for the qualitative detection of Plasmodium antigens followed by microscopic examination of thick and thin smears of blood cells.

Microscopic examination of stained  thick and thin smears of blood cells to observe and identify blood parasites. Thick smears are examined for the presence of parasites and the thin smears are examined to identify the blood parasite.
Performed:

Clinical Microbiology
Turnaround Time:

 2-48 hours
Reference Range:

Rapid Malaria Antigen Negative; No parasites observed
CPT 4 Code:

87207; 87899
Note:

This is a critical value and the LIP will be notified of first event
Synonyms:

Babesia; Malaria; Blood Parasite; Microfilaria, Trypanosomes, Plasmodium.
Patient Preparation :

Collect blood by venipuncture

  1. Label collection tubes with the patient's name (or other identifier), date and time of collection.
  2. Clean the site for blood collection well using 70% alcohol; allow to air dry.
  3. Collect the venous blood in a vacuum tube containing anticoagulant (EDTA); alternatively, collect the blood in a  syringe and  transfer it to a tube with anticoagulant; mix well.

 

Timing of blood collection

 Malaria:

  1. BLOOD SHOULD BE COLLECTED IMMEDIATELY UPON SUSPICION OF MALARIA, although the optimum time is about midway between chills to ensure obtaining stages on which species identifications can be made.
  2. Since single blood smears may not reveal organisms, successive smears at 6, 12 or 24 hours are sometimes necessary.
  3. Blood samples must be taken before any anti – malarial drugs are used to ensure demonstration of organisms if the patient does have malaria.

Other blood parasites: Blood samples should be collected in the early phases of the disease (within one month)  for optimal recovery.

 
Clinical Indication:

Suspected infection with blood parasites such as malaria (Plasmodium spp.), or Trypanosomes, or Babesia.
Effective Date: 05/02/2024
Reviewed By/Date: Loeffelholz, Michael - 01/31/2018
Approved By/Date: Williams-Bouyer, Natalie - 05/02/2024
When ordering tests for which Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement will be sought, physicians should only order tests that are medically necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of the patient. Components of the organ or disease panels may be ordered individually. The diagnostic information must substantiate all tests ordered and must be in the form of an ICD-10 code or its verbal equivalent.

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