Introduction

• Introduction

  • Next to feces, the largest number of parasites are found in blood hence making it the second most common specimen submitted to the laboratory for parasite examination.
• Introduction

  • Systemic or blood-borne parasitic infections are diagnosed by demonstrating the diagnostic stage of the responsible parasites in a blood specimen.
• Introduction

  • Although organism may be motile in fresh whole blood, species identification is typically accomplished from examination of permanently stained thick and thin blood films.
• Introduction

  • Proper collection and handling of blood specimen is essential to obtain adequate smears for examination.