Rapid evaluation of malaria parasite density and standardization of thick smear examination for epidemiological investigations.

The results of epidemiological surveys and the follow-up of malaria endemicity are often difficult to compare due to the high frequency of low-density parasitaemia in semi-immune populations. Detecting malaria parasites is dependent on the conditions and methods of parasitological examination. A standardized method of examination in epidemiological surveys is proposed: this includes the systematic rapid determination of parasite density.