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| '''Navigation'''</br> | | '''Navigation'''</br> |
| <span style="font-size:90%">>[[MalariaETC_Index|Main Malaria Index]]''</span></br> | | <span style="font-size:90%">>[[MalariaETC_Index|Main Malaria Index]]''</span></br> |
| <span style="font-size:90%">>>[[Malaria_Biology|Malaria Biology Index]]''</span></br> | | <span style="font-size:90%">>>[[Thick film interpretation|Thick film - main page]]''</span></br> |
| <span style="font-size:90%">>>>Current page: '''Thick film interpretation'''</span> | | <span style="font-size:90%">>>>Current page: '''Thick film vs thin film'''</span> |
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Revision as of 11:06, 13 February 2025
Navigation
>Main Malaria Index
>>Thick film - main page
>>>Current page: Thick film vs thin film
Relative merits of thick or thin films in malaria diagnosis
COMPARISON OF THICK AND THIN FILMS
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| Feature |
Thick Film |
Thin Film
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| Sensitivity for detection |
Higher: detects low parasitaemia ~5–10 parasites/µL |
Lower: generally needs ~50 parasites/µL for reliable detection)
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| Species Identification |
Poor: RBC morphology lost and species-specific features may be difficult |
Excellent: Parasite morphology and RBC characteristics are readily observed
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| Quantification of parasitaemia |
Difficult: requires estimation so is imprecise |
Easier: parasites can be counted per number of RBCs
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| Preparation and staining |
Longer: requires air drying before careful staining to avoid artefact |
Faster: films are fixed and stained immediately with clearer morphology
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COMPARISON OF THICK AND THIN FILMS
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| 1. Sensitivity for detection
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| Thick film: Higher - can detect lower levels of parasitaemia ~5–10 parasites/µL
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| Thin film: Lower - generally requires ~50 parasites/µL for reliable detection
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