Testing for Malaria
See a healthcare provider as soon as possible if
- you are experiencing any of the symptoms of malaria, and
- you have traveled in the last year to or from an area where malaria spreads.
Only a healthcare provider can diagnose malaria. A lab test will confirm malaria parasite infection using a small sample of your blood.
Why get tested
Quick and accurate diagnosis of malaria is important to treat people. It also helps to prevent further infection in the community by breaking the chain of transmission from infected persons via local mosquitoes. Delays in diagnosis and treatment is a leading cause of death in malaria patients in the United States.
This laboratory test is needed to confirm a malaria diagnosis.
How to get tested
See a healthcare provider immediately. They can conduct a diagnostic test as soon as possible if they suspect malaria.
Types of tests
There are a few diagnostic tests to confirm if you have malaria.
Blood smear microscopy
Blood smear microscopy test is where a small sample of blood is taken from a patient and sent to a laboratory to be examined under a microscope. It is the best way to confirm if a patient has malaria. Only a healthcare provider can order a microscopy test.
Rapid diagnostic testing (RDTs)
Malaria rapid diagnostic tests, or RDTs, are useful test options when reliable microscopic diagnosis is not available. Malaria RDTs detect antigens from malaria parasites.
In the U.S., only a healthcare provider can order an RDT test. A small sample of blood from the patient is collected and applied to the test card’s sample pad. RDTs are less sensitive than other lab tests. A blood smear microscopy test must always confirm both positive and negative RDT results in a patient with suspected malaria. Despite these limitations, RDT’s can provide results in less than 15 minutes.
PCR testing
PCR tests, or polymerase chain reaction tests, are also available to detect malaria parasites. These tests are more sensitive than routine blood smear microscopy tests or RDTs, but the results take longer, making them less ideal for initial diagnosis and treatment. However, PCR tests can confirm the exact species of malaria parasite and detect mixed infections. This helps determine which medicines to use to treat a patient with malaria.
Testing results
If you test positive for malaria, your healthcare provider will start you on medication to treat the disease immediately. The medications prescribed will be based on the type of malaria you have.
If you test negative for malaria, work with your healthcare provider to determine the cause of your symptoms.