Page 105 - Buku Panduan Perkhidmatan MKAKB

C. PARASITOLOGI

VERSION 1 – EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/01/2016

COLLECTION OF FINGER-PRICK BLOODAND PREPARATION OF
THICKAND THIN BLOOD FILMS

MALARIA MICROSCOPY STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE –- MM-SOP-05A

1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE

To describe the procedure for collecting blood from a finger prick and preparing thick and thin blood films
for malaria diagnosis by light microscopy.

This procedure is to be modified only with the approval of the national coordinator for quality assurance of
malaria microscopy. All procedures specified herein are mandatory for all malaria microscopists working in
national reference laboratories, in hospital laboratories or in basic health laboratories in health facilities
performing malaria microscopy.

2. BACKGROUND

Examination of blood films by microscopy is a basic technique, which remains the gold standard for the
diagnosis of malaria. Blood films for malaria diagnosis are best prepared from capillary blood obtained by
a finger prick. Good-quality blood films are essential to establish accurate diagnoses.

3. SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS

• cleaned glass slides, 25 x 75 mm, with one frosted end for labelling, preferably with ground edges,
and of good quality (See MM-SOP-01: Cleaning and storing microscope slides);
• 70% ethyl alcohol or alcohol swabs;
• sterile lancets, one per patient;
• dry cotton (cotton ball, swab or gauze);
• protective latex gloves (powder free);
• a biohazard container or any puncture-resistance sharps container (See MM-SOP 13: Management of
wastes generated from malaria diagnostic tests);
• an infectious wastes container (See MM-SOP 13: Management of wastes generated from malaria
diagnostic tests);
• a slide tray or box and a cover to dry slides horizontally, protected from dust and flies;
• a drying rack;
• record forms (i.e. malaria register) and
• a lead pencil or permanent marker pen.

4. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

• Wear protective latex gloves before starting blood collection and when handling slides, for personal
protection and to avoid leaving oil on the slide that may interfere with the smear preparation. Wear
gloves when handling blood, and remove them before leaving the work area or when writing notes.
• Always use a new lancet for each patient. Do not recap the lancets. Never re-use lancets.

• Avoid getting blood, wet or dry, on your fingers or hands.
• Cover cuts or abrasions on your hands with a waterproof dressing.
• Avoid accidentally pricking yourself when handling sharp instruments that have been in contact
with blood.
• Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water as soon as you finish a job.

• If you get blood on your skin, quickly wipe it off with a cotton swab dampened with alcohol;

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