Because treatment and clinical management of the
disease produced by each species may differ, and
because epidemiologic investigations often are
required, it is necessary to identify and report the
specific species found in the patient’s blood.
Therefore the microscopist must be familiar with the
appearance of each of the four species in stained
blood film.
Because laboratory diagnosis of malaria is made
from microscopic examination of stained blood films,
and in order to make reliable species diagnosis, the
lab technician must be able to identify the various
growth stages of the parasite.