SOP – Malaria Microscopy - NVBDCP

Quality Assurance of Malaria Diagnostic testsChapter 8STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES: MALARIA MICROSCOPYNATIONAL VECTOR BORNE DISEASE CONTROL PROGRAMME (NVBDCP)STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR QASOP TitleMALARIA MICROSCOPY- PREPARATION OF BLOOD SMEARSSOP No. SOP: M 01 Revision No. 0.0 Effective Date Dec. 2007Replacement No Dated Page No.Next Review onMaximum 2 years from “effective date”SOP: M 01- PREPARATION OF BLOOD SMEARS8.1.1 PurposeThis Standard Operating Procedure describes the process for preparing blood smears formalaria microscopy8.1.2 PrincipleTo diagnose whether a person is suffering from malaria or not, it is essential to examine theperipheral blood (thik & thin) film for malaria parasite. The thick film is made up of a largenumber of dehaemoglobinised red blood cells. The thin film consists of a single layer of redcells and is used to assist in the identification of malaria species, after the parasites havebeen detected in thick film. In a thick film, any parasites present are concentrated in asmaller area than in the thin film and are more quickly seen under the microscope. For QA ofmicroscopy, quality of preparation of the blood smear is of vital importance.8.1.3 Reagents, equipment required for slide preparation8.1.3.1 Reagents/equipment and other essential items• cleaned and wrapped slides• spirit swab• small bottle with cork for keeping spirit solution• cotton• clean cotton cloth• slide box for 25-50 slides• lead pencil• register and MF-2 form• carbon paper• ball point pen8.1.3.2 Specifications of glassware and other items required8.1.3.2.1 Glass micro-slidesSOP – Malaria Microscopy© Copyright to Dte. NVBDCP Only. Any modification are prohibited