Use of polymerase chain reaction for postmortem diagnosis of malaria

Delay or failure in diagnostic or therapeutic management of Plasmodiumfalciparum malaria may result in avoidable deaths, often incurring medicolegal procedures. Advanced postmortem autolytic processes and putrefication may thwart malaria diagnosis by traditional microscopic and histologic examinations. The authors describe the usefulness of polymerase chain reaction to confirm postmortem diagnosis of malaria.