Comparative evaluation of thin smear, thick smear and antigen detection test in the diagnosis of malaria

• Author Details:   
• Chetankumar Maganlal Dharaiya
• Bhavesh Ramji Faldu
• Harshid L Patel

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Background: Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a parasite that commonly infects a certain type of mosquito which feeds on humans. There are many Techniques available for Detection of malarial parasite from the blood.
Objective: The objective of this study is to determine efficacy of different methods for detection of malaria parasite.
Methodology: Total 5344 blood samples that came to pathology laboratory are investigated for malarial parasite by different technique like thin smear and Thick smear that is stained by Gimsa stain and Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for detection of malarial parasite.
Result: Among total 5354 samples were collected 305(5.7%) were found to be positive for malaria of the positive samples 300(98.36%) were positive by Thick smear, 221(72.45%) were positive by Thin smear and 281(92.13%) were positive by Antigen detection method. Among them 211(69.18%) cases of P. Vivax, 77(25.24%) cases of P. falciparum and 17(5.6%) had a mixed infection. Sensitivity of Thick smear is 98.36%, thin smear 72.45% and for antigen detection method it was 92.13%.
Conclusion: Detection of malarial parasite can be best done by combination of Antigen detection method and by Microscopic Examination of Thick smear.

Keywords: Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, Rapid test for antigen detection Sensitivity, Thick smear, Thin smear