Blood parasites

This scheme is suitable as an external quality control scheme for all commonly used laboratory methods to diagnose malaria (microscopy, antigen test and DNA amplificationtests). The scheme consists of four rounds per year and each distribution normally comprises 2 blood smears with a brief case description. Maximal 4 of the 8 blood smears can be provided by virtual microscopy. The participant is asked for morphological assessmentby microscopy for the presence of blood parasites. In addition, 8 blood lysates are distributed annually. Four blood lysates are distributed for examination by malaria antigen rapid tests and the other 4 blood lysate have to be examined for the presence ofPlasmodium DNA by means of a DNA amplification technique (e.g. PCR or LAMP). We strive to offer a theoretical question with each distribution. Each distribution is concluded with an evaluation in which the results of all participants together with the theoretical question are discussed.