Malaria Test Price in Ranihat

Test Description

Malaria testing detects Plasmodium species infection in human blood, transmitted by the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Five Plasmodium species infect humans: P. falciparum (most lethal, causing cerebral malaria and severe malaria), P. vivax (commonest globally, relapses due to hypnozoites), P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesi. Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) detect Plasmodium antigens (HRP-2 for P. falciparum, pLDH and aldolase for non-falciparum species) in a finger-prick blood sample with results in 15–20 minutes, enabling point-of-care diagnosis. Thick and thin peripheral blood smears (PBS) remain the gold standard: thick smears maximise sensitivity for parasite detection; thin smears allow speciation, morphological characterisation, and estimation of parasitaemia percentage. PCR-based tests offer highest sensitivity and are used to confirm species in low-parasitaemia states and detect drug-resistant gene mutations. Malaria is characterised by periodic fever, chills, rigors, headache, myalgia, and splenomegaly. P. falciparum infection can cause severe malaria with cerebral involvement, severe anaemia, acute respiratory distress, and multi-organ failure requiring urgent parenteral therapy. Haemogram, LFTs, RFTs, and blood glucose should be performed alongside malaria testing in febrile patients.