Blood

Lavender top tube 3 mL (EDTA)

1 mL blood in lavender top tube

Giemsa smears and Malaria antigen testing 24 hrs/day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

Antigen results will be available within one hour of specimen arrival, 24 hours a day. Preliminary thin smear results will be available within 90 minutes of specimen arrival if the specimen arrives between 0700-1900 or by 0930 if specimen arrives after hours.

One set of negative smears does not rule out malaria. If clinical suspicion for malaria remains after one set of negative smears, additional specimens should be submitted at 12 hour intervals for the subsequent 36 hour period.

Note on requisition if a parasite infection other than malaria is suspected.

Lateral Flow Assay for antigen testing.
Microscopic slide examination.

Stain is only performed by the laboratory if a malaria is requested.

Label transport tube with two patient identifiers, date and time of collection.
Submit whole blood in original container.
Relevant clinical information must be submitted with specimen in order to provide correct interpretation of test results.

Blood Specimen - Store at ambient or room temperature.

Place requisition into outside pocket of bag.
Place specimen into zip-lock type bag, seal bag.
Ship at room temperature.
EDTA blood needs to be delivered STAT to the Microbiology Lab.