Malaria Parasite Detection By Smear Examination Test

Malaria is attributed to the female Anopheles mosquito carrying Plasmodium parasites. When such a mosquito bites individuals, they may contract malaria.

The Malaria test price or MP test price varies depending on the laboratory, location, and type of test. For example, at Metropolis Healthcare, the Malaria Test or MP Test costs Rs 290.

If you've been to a malaria-prone region or have symptoms like high fever with chills, it's critical to get a Malaria Blood Test. The commonly used malaria parasite test is the Malaria test or MP Test which involves a smear examination of your blood sample.

The types of malaria include Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesi, with P. falciparum and P. vivax being the most common.

Preventive measures include using mosquito repellent, sleeping under insecticide-treated mosquito nets, wearing long-sleeved clothing, and taking prophylactic anti-malarial medications if travelling to high-risk areas.

Malaria treatment in India typically involves antimalarial medications such as chloroquine, artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), and other drugs tailored to the specific type of malaria and local drug resistance patterns.

There are several diagnostic tests for malaria:

• Malaria test, MP test: This is a smear examination of your blood sample. It helps in species identification and gives the percentage of parasites.
• Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT)
• Molecular tests like Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Individuals experiencing symptoms like fever, chills, and flu-like illness, especially after visiting or living in malaria-endemic areas, should get a malaria blood test.

A positive test result means you have malaria and should consult a healthcare provider immediately for treatment.

Limitations of malaria tests can include false negatives with low parasite levels, false positives, and variations in test accuracy depending on the method used.

While there are a few home malaria test kits available, it is always recommended to take a malaria blood test after speaking to a healthcare provider. This ensures accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Malaria parasites are primarily detected in blood samples. Urine or saliva tests are not standard practice and are generally less reliable.

The test is useful for the timely diagnosis and treatment for malaria. Common symptoms are high grade fever with chills, shivering, jaundice, nausea vomiting and if very severe convulsions and mental confusions. If left untreated malaria can lead to various complications like kidney and liver damage, internal bleeding and also neurological affections.

The test measures the presence or absence of malarial parasite in the blood.

This test requires a blood sample. A tourniquet (elastic) band is placed tightly on the upper arm. The patient is then asked to make a fist. This helps in the build-up of blood filling the veins. The skin is disinfected before needle insertion and the blood sample is collected in vacutainer.

If malarial parasite is present, it suggests malaria infection. Further investigations and treatment will be required. If the malaria parasite examination test is negative, it does not completely rule out malarial infection. Peripheral smear has sensitivity of 86.79% and hence repeated smear examination can be required to rule out false negativity.