‘In-house’ quantitative buffy coat technique in the diagnosis of malarial parasites: a cost-effective method

Abstract

Background Microscopic examination of blood films is accepted as the universal ‘gold-standard’ for the diagnosis of malaria. However, low parasitemia accounting for false-negative results and time consumption for declaring results are limiting factors for smear microscopy. The quantitative buffy coat (QBC) technique is a more rapid test and can detect malarial parasites (MP) in the condition of low parasitemia. Aim The aim of this study was to show the usefulness of an ‘in-house’ QBC method in the diagnosis of MP. Patients and methods One hundred positive smear samples of patients diagnosed with malaria were subjected to analysis by both the ‘in-house’ QBC and the commercial QBC technique. Two hundred samples negative for malaria on microscopic smear examination were also tested using the ‘in-house’ QBC method. Results The 100 smear positive samples tested positive for MP with both commercial QBC testing and the ‘in-house’ QBC technique. Of the 200 samples that tested negative on smear examination, 16 were positive for malaria on testing with the ‘in-house’ QBC technique. Conclusion The described ‘in-house’ QBC technique provides an additional advantage of being cost-effective in comparison with the available commercial QBC kits.