Laboratory Test Guide

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

Code	Name
SDES	Specimen Description
SREQ	Special Requests
GMSA	Giemsa Stain
RPT	Report Status

Interpretation

Method

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

Reference Range

See individual components

Ref. Range Notes

Negative

Guidelines

Washington DOH Notifiable Conditions

Ordering & Collection

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 refrigerated 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.

Quantity

requested: EDTA tube. Do not under fill
minimum: 2 mL pediatric EDTA tube

Processing

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.

Performance

LIS Dept Code

Microbiology (MC)

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