Field evaluation of fluorescence microscopy (QBC) for malaria diagnosis

ABSTRACT

Quantitative Buffy Coat (QBC) for malaria test was used under field conditions. Firstly; it was confronted with thick film in 720 specimens taken during field surveys. Sensitivity; efficiency and estimation of the personnel training and handling of QBC was done; considering its feasibility in a control programme in a developing country with hyperendemic malaria. Secondly; with 618 positive specimens taken at hospital; it was developed a method of converting the QBC parasite count into parasitaemia per mm3 of blood. The specificity of the QBC tube was 82.1 per cent; indicating malaria in 35 of 196 negative slides. the main handicaps are those concerning species identification other than Plasmodium falciparum. The species was correctly identified in 90.4 pour cent of specimens. Giemsa stained thick and thin blood films remains the method of choise for the diagnosis of malaria in the field