LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS OF MALARIA: A BRIEF REVIEW

Malaria remains today a heavy burden on tropical endemic countries and a threat to non-endemic countries. Recently rapid, cost effective diagnostic tests are available for malaria diagnosis, however, malaria cases are still increasing due to several factors. Traditional methods like blood smear examination even though considered standard method for speciation of malarial parasite, but it has its own limitations. Quantitative blood smear (QBC) examination is rapid, highly sensitive, but its sensitivity falls down when the parasitaemia drops down to 0.002%. Rapid immunochromatographic (ICT) tests detecting Histidine Rich Protein-II antigen and plasmodium Lactate Dehydrogenase are very useful in emergency conditions and non-availability of trained personnel. Molecular techniques like PCR are useful for detection of anti-malarial drug resistant strains of malarial parasites. Serological techniques for antibody detection are useful to identify the infected donors in cases of transfusion induced malaria. Newer diagnostic techniques are introduced to overcome the limitations of traditional diagnostic techniques