Rapid diagnosis of malaria by fluorescence microscopy

The routine procedure for detection of blood stages of Plasmodium spp involves Giemsa staining of thin and thick blood smears. This procedure, although simple, is time consuming, and its interpretation is dependent upon the training and experience of the observer. New methods for malaria diagnosis still require considerable financial outlay for specialist equipment and re-training of staff In this article, Hiko Kawamoto and Peter Billingsley discuss an efficient method for the detection of malaria parasites using low-cost, paired filters adapted for standard light microscopes and acridine orange staining.