Are malaria films requested appropriately? A study of all film requests in one health district.
In a 12-month period 238 patients had blood films examined for malaria parasites in a London district general hospital. All the available medical records of these patients were studied. The ethnic origin and country from which the patients had travelled were typical of an area with a large immigrant population. 27 of the films were positive. 39 were judged to have been requested inappropriately, usually because an adequate travel history had not been taken. Imported malaria is an important problem in this health district and contributes significantly to the laboratory workload.
D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008288:Malaria / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014195:Travel