Malaria PCR

Diagnostic Use

The indication for testing malaria is fever upon returning from a malaria endemic country.
The request form should specify, clinical symptoms, travel history and arrival date, as well as specify which prophylaxis was taken, and the duration of this.

Department

Microbiology - Bacteriology

Delphic Registration Code

PARA

Laboratory Handling

Phlebotomy

Deliver to Laboratory as soon as possible. 1 5ml EDTA

Registration

Send to Haematology if Internal collect. Send direct to Microbiology if referral collect.

Synonyms

Plasmodium PCR
Malaria microscopy
Malaria
Blood parasites

Turnaround Time

4 hours

Test Code

In town: CBCF, PARA and MAL. For out of town requests, only register PARA.

Specimen Type

• Whole Blood

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• EDTA (Lavender Cap)

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

5

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

5

No of Samples Required

1

Additional Specimen Information

Deliver to lab ASAP.
All Malaria requested samples first gets processed in Haematology for CBCF & comments on thin films, and then to Microbiology for PCR testing.
Note: Thick films are no longer performed at CHL.

Aliquot Instructions

Sample Type

• Whole Blood

Minimum Volume (ml)

5

Transport to Lab

If overnight - Chilled (2 - 8 degrees Celsius)

Interpretation

PCR testing performed will be detecting:
Plasmodium falciparum*

Plasmodium vivax

Plasmodium ovale

Plasmodium malariae/knowlesi**

 

*In cases of P. falciparum malaria, initial quantification as well as monitoring of treatment response on day 7 and day 28, will still be performed by microscopy on the first coming weekday.

**As the PCR does not initially differentiate Plasmodium malariae/knowlesi further speciation will be done in these cases.

 

 

 

 

Reference Intervals

Detected or Not detected.

Test Method

PCR

Non-Funded Test Cost

$111.3 (Exclusive of GST)

Billing Code

5078

It is important to highlight that P. falciparum incubation time is usually <10 days, but has been seen with an incubation time as long as 3 months. Any suspected case of malaria having returned from a malaria endemic country within the last three months should therefore result in urgent investigation for P. falciparum, as untreated P. falciparum malaria may lead to severe outcomes such as cerebral malaria, or death.

Contact Information

Enquiry Form

Contact Information

Enquiry Form