Malaria parasite screen
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. It is widespread in tropical and sub-tropical regions, including much of sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Americas. Malaria is a treatable disease that can be quickly fatal in non-immune people. It is therefore important to make an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible. There are five species of malarial parasites:
• Plasmodium falciparum
• Plasmodium vivax
• Plasmodium ovale
• Plasmodium malariae
• Plasmodium Knowlesi
The preparation and subsequent examination of freshly spread, thick and thin malarial blood films from EDTA anti-coagulated blood is the accepted method worldwide for demonstrating the presence or absence of malarial parasites in a patient’s blood. Rapid immunochromatographic antigen tests are also performed on all new diagnostic encounters.
Please note: patients with established malarial disease are monitored by microscopy only.
Symptoms include fever, shivering, arthralgia, vomiting, anaemia (caused by haemolysis) haemoglobinuria, retinal damage and convulsions. The classic clinical picture of malaria is cyclical occurrence of sudden coldness, followed by rigor, and then fever and sweating lasting 4-6 hours, occurring every two days in P. vivax and P. ovale infections, and every three days for P. malariae. P. falciparum can present with recurrent fever every 36-48 hours, or a less pronounced and almost continuous fever.
Sample must be received by lab within 4 hours of collection.
Record last updated
August 21, 2025
Sample Container
4ml EDTA Vacutainers (Lavender top)
Sample Container
K2EDTA Paediatric Tube (Lavender top)
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Test Results
Yes, we have a Pathology User Guide
Yes. Please email your request to Imperial.nwlpcustomerservice@nhs.net
Results are communicated to clinical staff and are normally not communicated direct to patients either on telephone requests or in written report. If you need to contact us please click here to view the contact details page
Please contact the Customer Service Team Monday to Friday from 8:30am – 6:00pm on 0203 313 5353. Alternatively, see the Pathology User Guide for how to contact the relevant department. If advice is not urgent you can also email your query to Imperial.nwlpcustomerservice@nhs.net
Additional tests may be added by discussion with the relevant laboratory. The time limit for adding additional tests to a sample already received in the laboratory will depend on the type of sample and the department it was sent to.
Information on the repertoire of tests performed by pathology, including reference ranges, turnaround times and specimen requirements, can be found in the test directory.
Phlebotomy services are not managed by NWLP. For further information please see:
Imperial College Healthcare Trust Phlebotomy services
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Phlebotomy services
NWLP operates UKAS accredited medical laboratories as per the references below. The current scope of accreditation for all NWLP’s laboratories can be found on the UKAS website.
See the following UKAS ref numbers:
- Clinical Biochemistry Ref: 8673
- Haematology and Blood Transfusion Ref: 8674
- Infection & Immunity Sciences (Including Immunology, Virology, Microbiology and Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics ) Ref: 8659
- Cellular Pathology (Including Histopathology, Cytology and Molecular Pathology) Ref: 9615
If you require copies of our certificate of accreditation and associated documentation please contact Imperial.nwlpcustomerservice@nhs.net.
UKAS requires the laboratories to be accredited for a particular repertoire/scope (ISO15189), any changes or additions to repertoire require assessment by UKAS (extension to scope).
The BD Hospital Tube Guide, BD GP Tube Guide and BD Paediatric Tube Guide provide visual references to the correct tube types and collection instructions.
Home testing
INSTRUCTION SHEET FOR BLOOD SAMPLE COLLECTION
We also have two instruction videos available (one with subtitles and one without) – please click on the links to view the videos on Google.
Our accreditations
Upholding excellence in diagnostic standards
Our laboratories are accredited by the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) against the international standard ISO15189:2022. UKAS is the accreditation body for the UK that assesses medical laboratories.
Find out more about our accreditations on the UKAS website.
UKAS website