The gold standard for the diagnosis of malaria involves microscopy with visualization of Giemsa-stained parasites in a blood sample. Species determination is made based on morphological characteristics of the four species of human malaria parasites and the infected red blood cells.

Thin film has a thickness in the order of 0.1 um (micrometer) or smaller, while thick film is thousands times thicker. However, the main difference is the method used to apply the resistive film onto the substrate. Thin film is more accurate, has a better temperature coefficient and is more stable.

A thick blood smear is a drop of blood on a glass slide. Thick blood smears are most useful for detecting the presence of parasites, because they examine a larger sample of blood. (Often there are few parasites in the blood at the time the test is done.)

Place slides into the working Giemsa stain (2.5%) for 45-60 minutes. 4. Remove thin smear slides and rinse by dipping 3-4 times in the Giemsa buffer. Thick smears should be left in buffer for 5 minutes.

Diagnosis of malaria involves performing blood smears. For a blood smear, a drop of blood is applied to and spread onto a glass slide. It is then treated with a special stain and examined under a microscope for the morphology of infected blood cells and the parasite.

Thin films are used for protecting the surface of many material, especially optical elements, from wear, scratches, fingerprints, and even from corrosion.

A thin blood smear is a drop of blood that is spread across a large area of the slide. Thin blood smears helps doctors discover what species of malaria is causing the infection.

Thin smears

1. Place a small drop of blood on the pre-cleaned, labeled slide, near its frosted end.
2. Bring another slide at a 30-45° angle up to the drop, allowing the drop to spread along the contact line of the 2 slides.
3. Quickly push the upper (spreader) slide toward the unfrosted end of the lower slide.

Do not wait for typical symptoms and signs or for chills. A negative test DOES NOT rule out malaria. Repeated tests may have to be done in all doubtful cases….Quantitative Buffy Coat (QBC)