Malaria Tests
Reviewed
Also called: Malaria blood smear, Malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT), Malaria by PCR
Malaria tests look for signs of a malaria infection in a sample of your blood. These infections are caused by malaria parasites.
Specimen: Blood
Urgent safety information
Without treatment, malaria can quickly become a life-threatening disease. If the results of your malaria test are positive, it means you have malaria. Your provider will prescribe medicine right away.
Why this test may be ordered
- You have symptoms of malaria (fever, chills, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting) and have recently been in parts of the world where malaria is common.
- To help control the spread of the disease by identifying infected individuals so they can be treated before mosquitoes become infected by biting them.
Preparation and collection
You don't need any special preparations for a malaria test.
Your provider will examine you and ask about your symptoms and recent travels. If your provider thinks you could have malaria, you will have a blood test to check for signs of malaria parasites.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
Understanding results
If a result or symptoms suggest an emergency, get emergency medical help right away.
If your provider strongly believes you have a serious case of malaria, you may start treatment before test results confirm you have the disease.
- Negative: If the results of your malaria test are negative, it means that no signs of malaria parasites were found in your blood sample. Limitation: But this doesn't rule out malaria. That's because the number of malaria parasites in your blood can vary over time. Next step: If you have a negative result, more blood samples are usually taken every 12–24 hours for a total of 3 sets of tests.
- Positive: If the results of your malaria test are positive, it means you have malaria. Limitation: The medicine you take will depend on: The type of malaria parasite you have, Whether the parasite has become resistant to certain medicines. Next step: Your provider will prescribe medicine right away. When treated early, malaria can usually be cured.
- A negative result does not rule out malaria because the number of parasites in your blood can vary over time.
- Rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) cannot accurately show which type of malaria parasite you have, which affects treatment decisions.
- If initial tests are negative, repeat blood samples are usually taken every 12–24 hours for a total of 3 sets of tests.
What to do next
When treated early, malaria can usually be cured. If you will be traveling to an area where malaria is common, talk with your provider before you go.
- Have you traveled to an area where malaria is common in the past 12 months?
- Do you have symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, nausea, or vomiting?
- Do your symptoms come and go every two or three days?
- Have you had a blood transfusion, organ transplant, or shared needles recently?
Evidence source
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus). Practices and reference ranges may differ in your country.