Concentration method of detecting Plasmodium falciparum using microcentrifuge and heparinised capillary tubes

ABSTRACT

Sixty malaria patients were studied. Thick blood films were prepared from the finger tips of the patients as usual to detect malaria parasites in blood. A sample of blood is also collected from the same finger tip with heparinised capillary tubes at the same time. The tubes were centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 5 minutes. The capillary tube was then broken into 3 pieces. One at upper part of the red cell column just below the white cells and another at the base of the red cell column. Blood collected from these two samples were stained together with samples from finger tips using usual standard procedure for the detection of malaria parasites. Blood collected from the uppermost part of red cell column yield the highest parasite density. The use of capillary tube is not an extraburden to the work load of the malaria unit and special instruments are also not necessary. This method may help in the detection of patients with low level of parasites in peripheral blood.