training module for medical officers primary health centre - NVBDCP

3.2: LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS OF MALARIA AND SUPERVISION OFLABORATORY SERVICESImportance of microscopy for management of malaria casesThe whole edifice of malaria control is based on accurate and prompt diagnosis of malaria in fevercases.Make available diagnostic facilities and chemotherapy of malaria close to residence of all fevercases.Diagnosis of all fever cases suspected to be malaria must be confirmed by microscopy or RDT.The PHC laboratory / malaria clinic becomes the central point to maintain required levels ofefficiency and accuracy of microscopic examination.The strategy of malaria control is influenced by parasite species and its distribution in thecommunity.Use of the microscopeA lens combination of a x10 eyepiece and a x100 objective, to give a total magnification of x1000, is thestandard used in most microscopes currently available. Binocular microscopes are easier and lesstiring to use, particularly for long periods. When a mirror is used with artificial light, the flat side shouldbe used; when daylight is the light source, the concave side should be used without the substagecondenser.Essential aspects of microscopyAdequate amounts of natural as well as artificial lighting in the laboratoryWorking table with adequate space24