Evaluation the State of Malaria Diagnosis in Kosti City Laboratories

Abstract

This study was conducted in the medical laboratories in Kosti city. The laboratories comprised the governmental, non governmental and private sector labs, to evaluate the result of malaria diagnosis by microscopy. 524 samples were taken by different laboratories. From each individual, a duplicate sample was taken for follow up by the investigator. From the blood sample, thick and thin smears were prepared, stained by Giemsa and examined microscopically to compare the results of each laboratory. The smears were examined by the investigator, in addition some of the slides examined by the laboratories under servey were sent to the reference laboratory of malaria administration in kosti for further confirmation of the results. The results were as follows: The rate of the false positive results in all laboratories reached 63%. The highest false results (79%) were reported by the governmental laboratories, while the non governmental laboratories and private laboratories reported 55 % and 48 % false results respectively. The difference was found to be statistically significant. Although the collection of the samples was done properly the percentage of the false positives reached 67% and when collection of the samples was done in properly, the percentage reached 63%. The study showed that when blood smears were done properly, the false positives rate reached 20%, and when the blood smears were done improperly the rate reached 65%. When the smears were properly stained, the false positives rate was 30% and when the smears were improperly stained, the rate was 69%. When evaluating the effect of the general condition of the laboratory (building, electricity and water supply, space and cleanness) on the performance of the result the false positives reached 63% in both good and bad condition laboratories. Despite the use of good and efficient microscopes the rate of false positives results reached 67% and 50% when inefficient microscopes were used. The study showed that, when a good quality immersion oil, was used the false positives results was 46% and reached 83% when the quality of immersion oil is bad. The study showed that the false positive result reached 77% among personnel who did not receive training in malaria and 39% in those who received training in malaria. The result revealed that the false positive rate was 29% among those samples examined by university graduates, while it reached 69% among those holding diplomas. The rate reached 74% among the samples examined by mixed graduates.