Thick vs Thin film comparison
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Relative merits of thick or thin films in malaria diagnosis
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Thin film appearances P.falciparum
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Thick film appearances P.falciparum
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| Feature | Thick Film | Thin Film |
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity for detection | Higher: detects low parasitaemia ~5–10 parasites/µL | Lower: generally needs ~50 parasites/µL for reliable detection) |
| Species Identification | Poor: RBC morphology lost and species-specific features may be difficult | Excellent: Parasite morphology and RBC characteristics are readily observed |
| Quantification of parasitaemia | Difficult: requires estimation so is imprecise | Easier: parasites can be counted per number of RBCs |
| Preparation and staining | Longer: requires air drying before careful staining to avoid artefact | Faster: films are fixed and stained immediately with clearer morphology |
| COMPARISON OF THICK AND THIN FILMS | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. Sensitivity for detection | ||
| Thick film: Higher - can detect lower levels of parasitaemia ~5–10 parasites/µL | ||
| Thin film: Lower - generally requires ~50 parasites/µL for reliable detection | ||