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: 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 and thick smears will be read within 24 hours. Malaria immunoassay is performed in addition to smear microscopy.

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).