The microfilaria test is used to detect and identify microfilaria in blood. Since microfilaria emerges at night, this test is carried out at a specified time of day or night.
The larvae of parasitic nematodes are referred to as microfilaria. (Larval stage 1). These larvae are released into circulation by adult parasites. As a result, any infected person will have embryonic larvae. Elephantiasis, loa filariasis, and river blindness are all illnesses caused by these parasites.
Blood is taken from suspected patients through the earlobe, venous blood, or finger prick. There are numerous methods for detecting the presence of these parasites in the body. These tests include a thin blood smear, a thick blood smear, quantitative blood count, and membrane filtration.
What is the Microfilaria Parasite Test?
The microfilaria test is used to detect and identify microfilaria in blood. Since microfilaria emerges at night, this test is carried out at a specified time of day or night.
The larvae of parasitic nematodes are referred to as microfilaria. (Larval stage 1). These larvae are released into circulation by adult parasites. As a result, any infected person will have embryonic larvae. Elephantiasis, loa filariasis, and river blindness are all illnesses caused by these parasites.
Blood is taken from suspected patients through the earlobe, venous blood, or finger prick. There are numerous methods for detecting the presence of these parasites in the body. These tests include a thin blood smear, a thick blood smear, quantitative blood count, and membrane filtration.
What is the use of the microfilaria test?
The primary approach for determining active microfilaria infection is a microscopic analysis of microfilaria in blood. Lymphatic filariasis causes microfilariae to proliferate in high numbers at night (nocturnal periodicity); a blood smear from a probable patient aids in detecting the larvae.
What is the need for a microfilaria parasite test?
Lymphatic filariasis causes abnormal swelling of bodily parts and acute discomfort in such areas. Severe impairment follows, and it is associated with a societal stigma. The microfilaria test is a diagnostic test that can help provide unambiguous proof of filarial infection. It also helps to know the size and form of the larvae, which aids in species identification. This contributes to better therapy.
What happens during the Microfilaria Parasite Test?
Microfilaria testing is usually done at night since that is when microfilariae emerge and the amount of microfilaria is higher. Trained workers obtain blood samples from the fingers, earlobes, or venous blood. Filariasis is diagnosed by examining blood smears for the presence of the larval roundworms B.malayi and W.bancrofti.
What are the risks of the Microfilaria Parasite Test?
There are no known complications associated with the Microfilaria Parasite Test. However, as with any blood test, there is a small risk of bleeding, infection, or bruising at the site where the blood sample is taken.
Understanding the microfilaria parasite test results?
A microfilaria test is performed on suspected patients by taking blood. Fill and spin down the Microhematocrit tube. The tubes are positioned on the microscopic stage. The Buffy coat is designed to provide 10x power. Your results are considered good if you can see circulating and wriggling microfilaria larvae.