Test Catalog

Test Id : MALCT

Not Orderable

Plasmodium Percent Parasitemia Reflex, Varies

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Overview

Test Catalog

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Calculating percent parasitemia, which can be used to predict prognosis and monitor response to treatment for patients with malaria

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

Slides submitted for malaria parasitemia reflex are used for percent parasitemia analysis.

 

This test may be added to positive LCMAL / Malaria, Molecular Detection, PCR, Varies by physician request only.

Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test

Only orderable as a reflex. For more information see LMALP / Malaria PCR with Parasitemia Reflex, Varies.

 

Giemsa Stain

NY State Available
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.

No

Reporting Name
Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test

Plasmodium Percent Parasitemia Rflx

Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching

Malaria

Parasitemia

Plasmodium

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

Slides submitted for malaria parasitemia reflex are used for percent parasitemia analysis.

 

This test may be added to positive LCMAL / Malaria, Molecular Detection, PCR, Varies by physician request only.

Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type validated for testing

Varies

Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing

Only orderable as a reflex. For more information see LMALP / Malaria PCR with Parasitemia Reflex, Varies.

 

Specimen Type: Blood films

Container/Tube: Clean, grease-free slides in plastic slide container

Specimen Volume: 2 Thin blood films and 2 thick blood films

Collection Instructions:

1. Blood films should be made from fresh blood using fingerstick or drops of blood from needle following venipuncture. However, EDTA anticoagulated blood is also acceptable.

2. Prepare thin blood films as follows:

 a. Prepare a thin film with a "feathered edge" that is no more than a single cell thick.

 b. Allow the film to thoroughly air dry and then fix by briefly immersing in either absolute or 95% methyl alcohol.

 c. Allow to air dry after fixation.

3. Prepare thick blood films as follows:

 a. Place a large drop of blood (approximately the size of a dime and preferably from a fingerstick) on a slide.

 b. Using a corner of a second slide, spread the drop in a circular motion while applying firm pressure to literally scratch the blood onto the carrier slide. This technique allows the blood to dry quickly and adhere well to the slide. Use approximately 20 circular sweeps with the second slide. The drop of blood should be about the size of a quarter when finished.

 c. Do not fix. Air dry thoroughly (approximately 45 minutes) before placing in transport container.

Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of sample necessary to provide a clinically relevant result as determined by the testing laboratory. The minimum volume is sufficient for one attempt at testing.

See Specimen Required

Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected

All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.

Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the performing laboratory, alternate acceptable temperatures are also included

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Varies Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days
Ambient 7 days

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Calculating percent parasitemia, which can be used to predict prognosis and monitor response to treatment for patients with malaria

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

Slides submitted for malaria parasitemia reflex are used for percent parasitemia analysis.

 

This test may be added to positive LCMAL / Malaria, Molecular Detection, PCR, Varies by physician request only.

Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Malaria is a potentially life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium species. Diagnosis is traditionally performed by microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood films. However, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing can also be used for sensitive and specific detection. When positive, PCR results should be followed by calculation of percent parasitemia from blood film examination. The degree of parasitemia is used to predict prognosis as well as monitor response to treatment for patients with malaria.

Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

Only orderable as a reflex. For more information see LMALP / Malaria PCR with Parasitemia Reflex, Varies.

 

A percent parasitemia is provided following a positive result for LMALP / Malaria PCR with Parasitemia Reflex, Varies.

Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

The percentage of parasitemia represents the percentage of infected red blood cells. This is calculated from representative microscopic fields on the thin blood film. Plasmodium gametocytes are not included in the calculation since they are not infectious to humans and are not killed by most antimalarial drugs.

Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

Since the degree of parasitemia may change rapidly due to natural parasite replication and administration of anti-malarial therapies, it is most useful to calculate the percentage of infected cells immediately after the blood is drawn and parasites are detected. A percent parasitemia calculated more than 8 hours after the blood is drawn will not accurately reflect the patient's current state of parasitemia.

 

Calculation of the percent parasitemia may not be possible if the parasites are degraded or have altered morphology due to age of the specimen or suboptimal transportation conditions.

 

In some cases of very low parasite burden, a specimen may be polymerase chain reaction positive, but no organisms are present on the thin film, and therefore it will not be possible to determine the percentage of infected red blood cells.

Clinical Reference
Recommendations for in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC). Malaria. CDC. Updated August 19, 2022. Accessed November 17, 2022. Available at www.cdc.gov/malaria/

2. Swan H, Sloan L, Muyombwe A, et al. Evaluation of a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for the diagnosis of malaria in patients from Thailand. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2005;73(5):850-854

3. World Health Organization (WHO). Malaria. WHO. Updated July 26, 2022. Accessed November 17, 2022. Available at www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria

Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

The percentage of infected cells (percent parasitemia) is calculated by counting the number of infected red blood cells among 3000 to 100,000 red blood cells on the thin blood film. The result is expressed as a percentage (% parasitemia = number of infected red blood cells/total number of red blood cells counted x 100).(Unpublished Mayo method)

PDF Report
Indicates whether the report includes an additional document with charts, images or other enriched information

No

Day(s) Performed
Outlines the days the test is performed. This field reflects the day that the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means that assays are performed multiple times during the day.

Monday through Friday

Report Available
The interval of time (receipt of sample at Mayo Clinic Laboratories to results available) taking into account standard setup days and weekends. The first day is the time that it typically takes for a result to be available. The last day is the time it might take, accounting for any necessary repeated testing.

Same day/1 to 4 days

Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

7 days

Performing Laboratory Location
Indicates the location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester

Fees
Several factors determine the fee charged to perform a test. Contact your U.S. or International Regional Manager for information about establishing a fee schedule or to learn more about resources to optimize test selection.

  • Authorized users can sign in to Test Prices for detailed fee information.
  • Clients without access to Test Prices can contact Customer Service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Prospective clients should contact their account representative. For assistance, contact Customer Service.

Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR) product.

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Clinic Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.

CPT codes are provided by the performing laboratory.

87207

LOINC® Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the order and results codes of this test. LOINC values are provided by the performing laboratory.

Test Id Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
MALCT Plasmodium Percent Parasitemia Rflx 53556-7
Result Id Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
MALCT Plasmodium Percent Parasitemia Rflx 53556-7

Test Setup Resources

Setup Files
Test setup information contains test file definition details to support order and result interfacing between Mayo Clinic Laboratories and your Laboratory Information System.

Excel | Pdf

Sample Reports
Normal and Abnormal sample reports are provided as references for report appearance.

Normal Reports | Abnormal Reports

SI Sample Reports
International System (SI) of Unit reports are provided for a limited number of tests. These reports are intended for international account use and are only available through MayoLINK accounts that have been defined to receive them.

SI Normal Reports | SI Abnormal Reports