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Mar 25, 2024 · Key points. Only a healthcare provider can diagnose malaria. A lab test will confirm malaria parasite infection using a small sample of your blood. Why get tested. Malaria is a serious disease which can become severe if not treated quickly.
- What are malaria tests?
- What are they used for?
- Why do I need a malaria test?
- What happens during a malaria test?
- Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?
- Are there any risks to the test?
- What do the results mean?
- Is there anything else I need to know about malaria tests?
- References
Malaria is a serious disease caused by a parasite. Malaria parasites are tiny single-celled life forms. They live and reproduce in the red blood cells of humans. This destroys the red blood cells, which makes you sick.
In most cases, people get malaria when they are bitten by mosquitos that are infected with the parasite. At first, malaria symptoms may be much like the flu. In certain cases, the disease can become life-threatening if it isn't treated quickly. But medicines can usually cure malaria.
Malaria tests look for signs of a malaria infection in a sample of your blood. The tests can diagnose malaria early so the disease can be cured before it causes serious illness. Malaria testing is used if you have symptoms of malaria and you have recently been in parts of the world where malaria is common.
Malaria is rare in the United States. It's mostly found in warm, humid parts of the world. The highest number of cases are in parts of Africa south of the Sahara Desert. In the U.S., most cases are in people who have traveled in tropical and subtropical areas where mosquitos spread a lot of disease.
In rare cases, malaria is spread through contact with the blood of an infected person. This may happen during blood transfusions, organ transplantations, or sharing needles and other items used to inject drugs. If you're pregnant when you have malaria, it's possible to give it to your unborn baby. But malaria isn't catchy like a cold or flu. And it can't be spread through sex or being near someone who has malaria.
Other names: malaria blood smear, malaria rapid diagnostic test, malaria by PCR
Malaria tests are used to diagnose malaria. There are different types of malaria parasites that infect humans. The tests can tell which type you have. This information is important for choosing the right treatment to cure the disease.
Malaria testing is also used to help control the spread of the disease. That's because mosquitos become infected with malaria parasites when they bite a person who has malaria. Then they spread the disease by biting others. Testing helps you get treatment to get rid of the parasites before more mosquitos get the parasite by biting you.
You may need this test if you have symptoms of malaria and you've been in an area where malaria is common. Depending on the type of malaria parasite, symptoms usually begin between 7 to 30 days after an infected mosquito bites you. But symptoms can take up to a year to appear. So, if you have symptoms, remind your health care provider about any places you've traveled over the past 12 months.
The first symptoms of malaria are often like having the flu, and may include:
•Fever
•Chills
•Fatigue
•Headache
Your provider will examine you and ask about your symptoms and recent travels. If your provider thinks you could have malaria, you will have a blood test to check for signs of malaria parasites.
During a blood test, a health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
There are two types of blood tests to diagnose malaria. Both tests are done when possible:
•Blood smear test. For this test, a drop of your blood is put on a special slide. A laboratory professional will examine the slide under a microscope to look for parasites. This test can identify all types of malaria parasites.
•Rapid diagnostic test (RDT). This test looks for certain proteins that come from malaria parasites. It can provide results in under 15 minutes, but an RDT can't accurately show which type of malaria parasite you have. This information affects your treatment. So, if an RDT shows that you have malaria, a blood smear is needed, too.
Your provider may order other blood tests, such as a complete blood count (CBC). If you do have malaria, the results of these tests will show how the disease is affecting you.
You don't any special preparations for a malaria test.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
If the results of your malaria test are negative, it means that no signs of malaria parasites were found in your blood sample. But this doesn't rule out malaria. That's because the number of malaria parasites in your blood can vary over time. If you have a negative result, more blood samples are usually taken every 12-24 hours for a total of 3 sets of tests. If these test results are all negative, you probably don't have malaria.
If the results of your malaria test are positive, it means you have malaria. Your provider will prescribe medicine right away. The medicine you take will depend on:
•The type of malaria parasite you have
•Whether the parasite has become resistant to certain medicines
•Your symptoms and medical history
•Whether you are pregnant
If you will be traveling to an area where malaria is common, talk with your provider before you go. You may be able to take medicine that can help prevent malaria.
You can also take steps to protect yourself against mosquito bites. This may reduce your risk of getting malaria and other infections transmitted by mosquitos.
1.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [Internet]. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Parasites: About Parasites; [reviewed 2022 Mar 31; cited 2023 Mar 13]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/about.html
2.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [Internet]. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Malaria: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs); [reviewed 2022 Mar 22; cited 2023 Mar 13]; [about 7 screens]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/about/faqs.html
3.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [Internet]. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Treatment of Malaria: Guidelines for Clinicians (United States); [reviewed 2023 Feb 14; cited 2023 Mar 13]; [about 9 screens]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/diagnosis_treatment/clinicians1.html#eval
4.Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Cleveland (OH): Cleveland Clinic; c2023. Malaria; [reviewed 2022 May 18; cited 2023 Mar 13]; [about 14 screens]. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15014-malaria
5.Kids Health from Nemours [Internet]. Jacksonville (FL): The Nemours Foundation; c1995-2023. Malaria; [reviewed 2017 Oct; cited 2023 Mar 13]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/malaria.html
6.Mayo Clinic [Internet]. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; c1998-2023. Malaria: Symptoms and causes; [cited 2023 Mar 13]; [about 7 screens]. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/malaria/symptoms-causes/syc-20351184
Feb 9, 2023 · To diagnose malaria, your doctor will likely review your medical history and recent travel, conduct a physical exam, and order blood tests. Blood tests can indicate: The presence of the parasite in the blood, to confirm that you have malaria. Which type of malaria parasite is causing your symptoms.
WHO recommends prompt malaria diagnosis either by microscopy or rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for all patients with suspected malaria before they are given treatment. Early and accurate diagnosis is essential both for effective management of malaria and other febrile illnesses and for strong malaria surveillance.
Your provider will take a sample of your blood and send it to a lab to see if you have malaria parasites. The blood test will tell your provider if you have malaria and will also identify the type of parasite that’s causing your symptoms. Your provider will use this information to determine the right treatment.
Other useful tests that may be done include: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This test detects parasite nucleic acids and identifies the species of malaria parasite. Complete blood count (CBC). This checks for anemia or evidence of other possible infections.
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