Diagnostic biologique du paludisme d'importation

Malaria is a parasite infection caused by protozoan of the Plasmodium genus. Its diagnosis should be suggested in every febrile patient who comes back from any tropical country. It has to be thorough in order to limit disease worsening and to propose rapidly an adequate therapy. Microscopic observation of parasites within red blood cells is currently the only laboratory mean to readily confirm malaria diagnosis in routine. Thin and thick blood smears are usually implemented in such a context, while antigen detection should only be considered as a complementary alternative. Therefore, lab techs and doctors play a critical role in the process of malaria diagnosis. They have to provide a definitive report by the first two hours following the blood sampling. They are also expected to be able to distinguish between the Plasmodium species and to count the number of parasites in the blood.