SOP – Malaria Microscopy - NVBDCP

Quality Assurance of Malaria Diagnostic testsPrefaceVector-borne diseases including malaria are a major public health problem in India.Containment of these diseases includes prevention and control measures at thecommunity level and accurate diagnosis and management at the individual case level.As far as malaria is concerned, both the above components require establishment ofvector (mosquito) control measures and quality assured diagnostics.The National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme has a vast infrastructure oflaboratory network consisting of PHC, District, Tertiary care and Medical Collegelaboratories engaged in malaria diagnostics. However, the results produced by differentlaboratories are not consistent, hence there is a need of national programme to assureand assess the quality of performance by various laboratories.A successful quality assurance programme for malaria diagnostics is the need of thehour to ensure accurate malaria diagnosis across the country. In this regard, the firststep has been the preparation, development and field testing of the manual entitled“QUALITY ASSURANCE OF LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS OF MALARIA BYMICROSCOPY” by this Directorate and its field testing. The minimal facilities andstandards required for performing microscopy for diagnosis of malaria are given in thismanual.It is envisaged that this manual will help in achieving quality services through capacitybuilding and practice of quality management and quality assurance for laboratorydiagnosis of malaria by microscopy.Dr. G.P.S. DhillionDirector, NVBDCPSOP – Malaria Microscopy© Copyright to Dte. NVBDCP Only. Any modification are prohibited