A simplified, low-cost method for polarized light microscopy.
Malaria pigment is an intracellular inclusion body that appears in blood and tissue specimens on microscopic examination and can help in establishing the diagnosis of malaria. In simple light microscopy, it can be difficult to discern from cellular background and artifacts. It has long been known that if polarized light microscopy is used, malaria pigment can be much easier to distinguish. However, this technique is rarely used because of the need for a relatively costly polarization microscope. We describe a simple and economical technique to convert any standard light microscope suitable for examination of malaria films into a polarization microscope.
Centre for Tropical Diseases, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom. richardmaude@gmail.com
Richard J
RJ
Maude
Wanchana
W
Buapetch
Kamolrat
K
Silamut
D000818:Animals; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D006420:Hemeproteins; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum
D006420:Hemeproteins; C020753:hemozoin