Journal of Tropical Diseases and Parasitology ›› 2025, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (1): 40-43.doi: 10.20199/j.issn.1672-2302.2025.01.008

• CONTROL STUDY • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Analysis of laboratory microscopic qualification in detecting Plasmodium in Changsha City from 2018 to 2023

WANG Miaomiao(), WEN Lan, ZHANG Bing, HUANG Feifan, ZHANG Pan, TIAN Bin()   

  1. Changsha Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha 410004, Hunan Province, China
  • Received:2024-06-05 Online:2025-02-20 Published:2025-04-03
  • Contact: TIAN Bin E-mail:1412765882@qq.com;20433031@qq.com

Abstract:

Objective To evaluate the competence of laboratories in medical institutions and county-level Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Changsha area in microscopic identification of Plasmodium species, so as to provide technical insights for improving the qualification in malaria diagnosis. Methods The data on Plasmodium species identification from 2018 to 2023 in Changsha area were collected via the Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System. The results validated by provincial-level laboratories were used as “gold standard” to analyze the discrepancies in species identification accuracy across laboratories at lower levels. Results Between 2018 and 2023, a total of 212 malaria-positive blood samples delivered by lower level institutions in Changsha area were re-examined and confirmed by changsha CDC, which were completely consistent with the findings validated by provincial-level laboratories. Of the 212 samples, 143 cases were associated with Plasmodium falciparum, 29 with Plasmodium ovale, 28 with Plasmodium vivax, 10 with Plasmodium malariae, and 2 were mixed infections. The overall coincidence rate in species identification was 95.75% (203/212) for medical institutions and 97.64% (207/212) for county-level CDC laboratories. There was no significant difference in the overall coincidence rate of species identified by the medical institutions at different levels (χ2=1.61, P>0.05), yet was significant in specific species across medical institutions as a whole (χ2=50.83, P<0.05). The accuracy was the highest for P. falciparum (99.30%), and lower for P. malariae (80.00%), and all medical institutions failed to identify the two mixed infections. The difference in the overall coincidence rate of species identification among county-level CDC institutions was not statistically significant (χ2=2.76, P>0.05). However, there was a statistically significant difference in the coincidence rate of identification for specific species across county-level CDC institutions as a whole (χ2=37.01, P<0.05). The accuracy was 100.00% in identification of P. falciparum, 80.00%( 8/10) for P. malariae and 50.00%(1/2)) for mixed infections. Conclusion The qualification still needs improving in the laboratories in Changsha City in microscopy of Plasmodium. Targeted training and quality supervision for weaknesses in medical institutions and CDC laboratories are recommended to enhance the laboratory testing capabilities.

Key words: Plasmodium, Microscopy, Medical institution, CDC institution, Changsha City

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