Background: Misinterpretation of malaria microscopy results can lead to inappropriate case management of malaria. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of malaria microscopy among health facilities in Hawassa city. A cross - sectional study was conducted to assess the quality of malaria microscopy diagnosis in Hawassa city health facility laboratories from November 2012 to January 2013 in Sothern Ethiopia. Validated panel malaria slides were distributed to health facilities accompanied with a questionnaire that assessed factors related to malaria microscopy improvement. Operational definitions for correct result and major and minor errors were outlined. A total of 51 laboratory professionals in 10 health facilities were surveyed with a response rate of 85%. Results were collected and data was analyzed by SPSS, and Win Pepi software. Result: Of 306 malaria slides examined in Sample 1-Sample 6 [S1-S6] only 54% of the examinations reported correctly. Considering major errors in [S1-S4], the most common errors were reporting negative for positive slide 39/83(47%), species identification error 29/83(35%) and density 15/83 (18%). In mixed Plasmodium falciparum/Plasmodium vivax (Pf/Pv) sample, only 18% of participants made correct diagnosis in identifying both Pf/Pv species. In Plasmodium negative sample 45(88.2%) of participants scored (no parasites observed) correctly. Considering S1-S4, 29 of the 165 densities reported were different from the reference density established for each slide. 53% of participants had never participated in a formal training on malaria microscopy, and among those who did, more than half were trained earlier than 2008. All of the participants reported to use tap water in preparation of working Giemsa solution. Conclusion: The present assessment revealed a poor quality of malaria microscopy in Hawassa city administration health facilities. Therefore, responsible bodies are required to improve quality of malaria microscopy, and also provide regular refreshment training for laboratory professionals in malaria microscopy. Further similar study should be conducted in large scale.
Published in | Clinical Medicine Research (Volume 4, Issue 3) |
DOI | 10.11648/j.cmr.20150403.11 |
Page(s) | 63-68 |
Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group |
External Quality Assessment, Malaria Microscopy
[1] | Tulu NA: Malaria. In The Ecology of Health and Disease in Ethiopia. 2nd edition. Edited by Kloos H, Zein AZ. Boulder, USA: Westview Press Inc; 1993:341–352. |
[2] | The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia MOH. Malaria Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines for Health Workers in Ethiopia 2nd Edition Addis Ababa July 2004 |
[3] | World Health Organization: Malaria Microscopy Quality Assurance Manual, version1. 2009. |
[4] | World Health Organization: Basic Malaria Microscopy - Part II. Tutor's Guide.2nd edition.2010. |
[5] | O'Meara WP, Barcus M, Wongsrichanalai C, Muth S, Jason D Maguire JD, Robert G Jordan RG, Prescott WR, McKenzie FE. Reader technique as a source of variability in determining malaria parasite density by microscopy Malaria Journal 2006, 5:118 |
[6] | Durrheim DN, Becker PJ, Billinghurst K, Brink A. Diagnostic disagreement – the lessons learnt from malaria diagnosis in Mpumalanga. S Afr Med J. 1997; 87:609–611. |
[7] | Maguire JD, Lederman ER, Barcus MJ, O’Meara WA, Jordon RG, Duong S, Muth S, Sismadi P, Bangs MJ, Prescott WR, Baird JK, Wongsrichanalai C. Production and validation of durable, high quality standardized malaria microscopy slides for teaching, testing and quality assurance during an era of declining diagnostic proficiency. Malar J. 2006; 5:92. |
[8] | World Health Organization. Malaria Light Microscopy. Creating a Culture of Quality. Report of WHO SEARO/ WPRO workshop on quality assurance for malaria microscopy, 18–21 April 2005; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 2005. |
[9] | World Health Organization: Manual of basic techniques for a health laboratory. 2nd edition.2003. |
[10] | Ohrt C, Purnomo, Sutamihardja MA, Tang D, Kain K. Impact of microscopy error on estimates of protective efficacy in malaria-prevention trials. J Infect Dis. 2002; 186:540–546. |
[11] | SNNPRS RHB/Malaria Consortium: Implementation Guideline for Malaria Microscopy Diagnosis Quality Assurance. Hawassa, Ethiopia. September 2008. |
[12] | Johnston SP, Pieniazek NJ, Xayavong MV, Slemenda SB, Wilkins PP, da Silva AJ. PCR as a confirmatory technique for laboratory diagnosis of malaria. J Clin Microbiol. 2006; 44:1087–1089. |
[13] | Mukadi P, Gillet P, Lukuka A, Atua B, Kahodi S, Lokombe J Muyembe JJ, Jacobs J. External quality assessment of malaria Microscopy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Malaria Journal 2011; 10:308 |
[14] | McKenzie FE, Sirichaisinthop J, Miller RS, Gasser RA Jr, Wongsrichanalai C. Dependence of malaria detection and species diagnosis by microscopy on parasite density. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2003; 69:372–376. |
[15] | Thomson S, Lohmann RC, Crawford L, Dubash R, Richardson H. External quality assessment in the examination of blood films for malarial parasite within Ontario, Canada. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2000; 124:57–60. |
[16] | Milne LM, Kyi MS, Chiodini PL, Warhurst DC. Accuracy of routine laboratory diagnosis of malaria in the United Kingdom. J Clin Pathol. 1994; 47:740–742. |
[17] | Dini L, Frean J: Quality assessment of malaria laboratory diagnosis in South Africa. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2003, 97:675-677. |
[18] | Kettelhut M M , Chiodini PL, Edwards H, Moody A. External quality assessment schemes raise standards: evidence from the UKNEQAS parasitology subschemes. Clin Pathol 2003; 56:927–932. |
[19] | McKenzie FE, Sirichaisinthop J, Miller RS, Gasser RA Jr, Wongsrichanalai C. Dependence of malaria detection and species diagnosis by microscopy on parasite density. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2003; 69:372–376. |
[20] | Ohrt C, Obare P, Nanakorn A, Adhiambo C, Awuondo K, O'Meara WP, Remich S,Martin K, Cook E, Chretien JP, Lucas C, Osoga J, McEvoy P, Owaga ML, Odera JS, Ogutu B. Establishing a malaria diagnostics centre of excellence in Kisumu, Kenya Malaria Journal 2007, 6:79 |
[21] | Dowling MA, Shute GT. A comparative study of thick and thin blood films in the diagnosis of scanty malaria parasitaemia. Bull World Health Organ. 1966; 34: 249–267. |
[22] | Trape JF. Rapid evaluation of malaria parasite density and standardization of thick smear examination for epidemiological investigations. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1985; 79: 181–184. |
[23] | Payne D. Use and limitations of light microscopy for diagnosing malaria at the primary health care level. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 1988; 66 (5): 621-626 |
[24] | World Health Organization: Basic Malaria Microscopy - Part I. Learner's Guide. 2nd edition. 2010. |
APA Style
Bereket Zeleke, Girmay Admasu, Tigist Getachew, Endalish Kebede, Goshu Belay, et al. (2015). External Quality Assessment of Malaria Microscopy in Hawassa Health Facilities, Southern Ethiopia. Clinical Medicine Research, 4(3), 63-68. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cmr.20150403.11
ACS Style
Bereket Zeleke; Girmay Admasu; Tigist Getachew; Endalish Kebede; Goshu Belay, et al. External Quality Assessment of Malaria Microscopy in Hawassa Health Facilities, Southern Ethiopia. Clin. Med. Res. 2015, 4(3), 63-68. doi: 10.11648/j.cmr.20150403.11
AMA Style
Bereket Zeleke, Girmay Admasu, Tigist Getachew, Endalish Kebede, Goshu Belay, et al. External Quality Assessment of Malaria Microscopy in Hawassa Health Facilities, Southern Ethiopia. Clin Med Res. 2015;4(3):63-68. doi: 10.11648/j.cmr.20150403.11
@article{10.11648/j.cmr.20150403.11, author = {Bereket Zeleke and Girmay Admasu and Tigist Getachew and Endalish Kebede and Goshu Belay and Amanuel Abraha and Dawit Yihdego and Mengistu Hailemariam and Misganaw Birhaneselassie}, title = {External Quality Assessment of Malaria Microscopy in Hawassa Health Facilities, Southern Ethiopia}, journal = {Clinical Medicine Research}, volume = {4}, number = {3}, pages = {63-68}, doi = {10.11648/j.cmr.20150403.11}, url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cmr.20150403.11}, eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cmr.20150403.11}, abstract = {Background: Misinterpretation of malaria microscopy results can lead to inappropriate case management of malaria. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of malaria microscopy among health facilities in Hawassa city. A cross - sectional study was conducted to assess the quality of malaria microscopy diagnosis in Hawassa city health facility laboratories from November 2012 to January 2013 in Sothern Ethiopia. Validated panel malaria slides were distributed to health facilities accompanied with a questionnaire that assessed factors related to malaria microscopy improvement. Operational definitions for correct result and major and minor errors were outlined. A total of 51 laboratory professionals in 10 health facilities were surveyed with a response rate of 85%. Results were collected and data was analyzed by SPSS, and Win Pepi software. Result: Of 306 malaria slides examined in Sample 1-Sample 6 [S1-S6] only 54% of the examinations reported correctly. Considering major errors in [S1-S4], the most common errors were reporting negative for positive slide 39/83(47%), species identification error 29/83(35%) and density 15/83 (18%). In mixed Plasmodium falciparum/Plasmodium vivax (Pf/Pv) sample, only 18% of participants made correct diagnosis in identifying both Pf/Pv species. In Plasmodium negative sample 45(88.2%) of participants scored (no parasites observed) correctly. Considering S1-S4, 29 of the 165 densities reported were different from the reference density established for each slide. 53% of participants had never participated in a formal training on malaria microscopy, and among those who did, more than half were trained earlier than 2008. All of the participants reported to use tap water in preparation of working Giemsa solution. Conclusion: The present assessment revealed a poor quality of malaria microscopy in Hawassa city administration health facilities. Therefore, responsible bodies are required to improve quality of malaria microscopy, and also provide regular refreshment training for laboratory professionals in malaria microscopy. Further similar study should be conducted in large scale.}, year = {2015} }
TY - JOUR T1 - External Quality Assessment of Malaria Microscopy in Hawassa Health Facilities, Southern Ethiopia AU - Bereket Zeleke AU - Girmay Admasu AU - Tigist Getachew AU - Endalish Kebede AU - Goshu Belay AU - Amanuel Abraha AU - Dawit Yihdego AU - Mengistu Hailemariam AU - Misganaw Birhaneselassie Y1 - 2015/03/23 PY - 2015 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cmr.20150403.11 DO - 10.11648/j.cmr.20150403.11 T2 - Clinical Medicine Research JF - Clinical Medicine Research JO - Clinical Medicine Research SP - 63 EP - 68 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2326-9057 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cmr.20150403.11 AB - Background: Misinterpretation of malaria microscopy results can lead to inappropriate case management of malaria. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of malaria microscopy among health facilities in Hawassa city. A cross - sectional study was conducted to assess the quality of malaria microscopy diagnosis in Hawassa city health facility laboratories from November 2012 to January 2013 in Sothern Ethiopia. Validated panel malaria slides were distributed to health facilities accompanied with a questionnaire that assessed factors related to malaria microscopy improvement. Operational definitions for correct result and major and minor errors were outlined. A total of 51 laboratory professionals in 10 health facilities were surveyed with a response rate of 85%. Results were collected and data was analyzed by SPSS, and Win Pepi software. Result: Of 306 malaria slides examined in Sample 1-Sample 6 [S1-S6] only 54% of the examinations reported correctly. Considering major errors in [S1-S4], the most common errors were reporting negative for positive slide 39/83(47%), species identification error 29/83(35%) and density 15/83 (18%). In mixed Plasmodium falciparum/Plasmodium vivax (Pf/Pv) sample, only 18% of participants made correct diagnosis in identifying both Pf/Pv species. In Plasmodium negative sample 45(88.2%) of participants scored (no parasites observed) correctly. Considering S1-S4, 29 of the 165 densities reported were different from the reference density established for each slide. 53% of participants had never participated in a formal training on malaria microscopy, and among those who did, more than half were trained earlier than 2008. All of the participants reported to use tap water in preparation of working Giemsa solution. Conclusion: The present assessment revealed a poor quality of malaria microscopy in Hawassa city administration health facilities. Therefore, responsible bodies are required to improve quality of malaria microscopy, and also provide regular refreshment training for laboratory professionals in malaria microscopy. Further similar study should be conducted in large scale. VL - 4 IS - 3 ER -