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Malaria Tests

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What are malaria tests?

Malaria is a serious disease caused by a parasite. Parasites are tiny plants or animals that get nutrients by living off another creature. Parasites that cause malaria are passed to humans through the bite of infected mosquitos. At first, malaria symptoms may be similar to those of the flu. Later on, malaria can lead to life-threatening complications.

Malaria is not contagious like a cold or flu, but it can be spread from person to person by mosquitos. If a mosquito bites an infected person, it will spread the parasite to anyone it bites afterward. If you are bitten by an infected mosquito, the parasites will travel into your bloodstream. The parasites will multiply inside your red blood cells and cause illness. Malaria tests look for signs of a malaria infection in the blood.

Malaria is common in tropical and subtropical areas. Every year, millions of people are infected with malaria, and hundreds of thousands of people die from the disease. Most people who die from malaria are young children in Africa. While malaria is found in more than 87 countries, most infections and deaths happen in Africa. Malaria is rare in the United States. But U.S. citizens who travel to Africa and other tropical countries are at risk for getting infected.

Other names: malaria blood smear, malaria rapid diagnostic test, malaria by PCR

What are they used for?

Malaria tests are used to diagnose malaria. If malaria is diagnosed and treated early, it can usually be cured. Left untreated, malaria can lead to life-threatening complications, including kidney failure, liver failure, and internal bleeding.

Why do I need a malaria test?

You may need this test if you live or have recently traveled to an area where malaria is common and you have symptoms of malaria. Most people will have symptoms within 14 days of being bitten by an infected mosquito. But symptoms can show up as soon as seven days afterward or can take as long as a year to appear. In the early stages of infection, malaria symptoms are similar to the flu, and may include:

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Body aches
  • Nausea and vomiting
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In the later stages of infection, symptoms are more serious and may include:

  • High fever
  • Shivering and chills
  • Convulsions
  • Bloody stools
  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
  • Seizures
  • Mental confusion

What happens during a malaria test?

Your health care provider will probably ask about your symptoms and for details on your recent travels. If an infection is suspected, your blood will be tested to check for signs of a malaria infection.

During a blood test, a health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.

Your blood sample may be tested in one or both of the following ways.

  • Blood smear test. In a blood smear, a drop of blood is put on a specially treated slide. A laboratory professional will examine the slide under a microscope and look for parasites.
  • Rapid diagnostic test. This test looks for proteins known as antigens, which are released by malaria parasites. It can provide faster results than a blood smear, but a blood smear is usually needed to confirm a diagnosis.

Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?

You don’t any special preparations for a malaria test.

Are there any risks to the test?

There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.

What do the results mean?

If your results were negative, but you still have malaria symptoms, you may need retesting. The number of malaria parasites can vary at times. So your provider may order blood smears every 12-24 hours over a period of two to three days. It’s important to find out whether you have malaria so you can get treated quickly.

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If your results were positive, your health care provider will prescribe medicine to treat the disease. The type of medicine will depend on your age, how serious your malaria symptoms are, and whether you are pregnant. When treated early, most cases of malaria can be cured.

Is there anything else I need to know about malaria tests?

If you will be traveling to an area where malaria is common, talk to your health care provider before you go. He or she may prescribe a medicine that can help prevent malaria.

There are also steps you can take to prevent mosquito bites. This may reduce your risk of getting malaria and other infections transmitted by mosquitos. To prevent bites, you should:

  • Apply an insect repellent containing DEET on your skin and clothing.
  • Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants.
  • Use screens on windows and doors.
  • Sleep under a mosquito net.

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [Internet]. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Malaria: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs); [cited 2019 May 26]; [about 4 screens]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/about/faqs.html
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [Internet]. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Parasites: About Parasites; [cited 2019 May 26]; [about 4 screens]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/about.html
  3. Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Cleveland (OH): Cleveland Clinic; c2019. Malaria: Diagnosis and Tests; [cited 2019 May 26]; [about 4 screens]. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15014-malaria/diagnosis-and-tests
  4. Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Cleveland (OH): Cleveland Clinic; c2019. Malaria: Management and Treatment; [cited 2019 May 26]; [about 5 screens]. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15014-malaria/management-and-treatment
  5. Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Cleveland (OH): Cleveland Clinic; c2019. Malaria: Outlook/Prognosis; [cited 2019 May 26]; [about 7 screens]. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15014-malaria/outlook–prognosis
  6. Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Cleveland (OH): Cleveland Clinic; c2019. Malaria: Overview; [cited 2019 May 26]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15014-malaria
  7. Kids Health from Nemours [Internet]. Jacksonville (FL): The Nemours Foundation; c1995–2019. Malaria; [cited 2019 May 26]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/malaria.html
  8. Lab Tests Online [Internet]. Washington D.C.: American Association for Clinical Chemistry; c2001–2019. Malaria; [updated 2017 Dec 4; cited 2019 May 26]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://labtestsonline.org/conditions/malaria
  9. Mayo Clinic [Internet]. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; c1998–2019. Malaria: Diagnosis and treatment; 2018 Dec 13 [cited 2019 May 26]; [about 4 screens]. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/malaria/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351190
  10. Mayo Clinic [Internet]. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; c1998–2019. Malaria: Symptoms and causes; 2018 Dec 13 [cited 2019 May 26]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/malaria/symptoms-causes/syc-20351184
  11. Merck Manual Consumer Version [Internet]. Kenilworth (NJ): Merck & Co. Inc.; c2020. Malaria; [updated 2019 Oct; cited 2020 Jul 29]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/infections/parasitic-infections-extraintestinal-protozoa/malaria?query=malaria
  12. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Blood Tests; [cited 2019 May 26]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/blood-tests
  13. UF Health: University of Florida Health [Internet]. Gainesville (FL): University of Florida Health; c2019. Malaria: Overview; [updated 2019 May 26; cited 2019 May 26]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://ufhealth.org/malaria
  14. University of Rochester Medical Center [Internet]. Rochester (NY): University of Rochester Medical Center; c2019. Health Encyclopedia: Malaria; [cited 2019 May 26]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=85&contentid=P00635
  15. UW Health [Internet]. Madison (WI): University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority; c2019. Health Information: Malaria: Cause; [updated 2018 Jul 30; cited 2019 May 26]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.uwhealth.org/health/topic/major/malaria/hw119119.html#hw119142
  16. UW Health [Internet]. Madison (WI): University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority; c2019. Health Information: Malaria: Exams and Tests; [updated 2018 Jul 30; cited 2019 May 26]; [about 8 screens]. Available from: https://www.uwhealth.org/health/topic/major/malaria/hw119119.html#hw119236
  17. UW Health [Internet]. Madison (WI): University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority; c2019. Health Information: Malaria: Symptoms; [updated 2018 Jul 30; cited 2019 May 26]; [about 4 screens]. Available from: https://www.uwhealth.org/health/topic/major/malaria/hw119119.html#hw119160
  18. UW Health [Internet]. Madison (WI): University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority; c2019. Health Information: Malaria: Topic Overview; [updated 2018 Jul 30; cited 2019 May 26]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.uwhealth.org/health/topic/major/malaria/hw119119.html
  19. World Health Organization [Internet]. Geneva (SUI): WHO; c2019. Malaria; 2019 Mar 27 [cited 2019 May 26]; [about 4 screens]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria
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