Removal · field guidance

Blood smear for Babesia

Giemsa-stained thin and thick blood smears reveal intra-erythrocytic ring forms and the diagnostic Maltese cross tetrad.

Steps

schema.org/HowTo

01
Prepare both thin and thick peripheral blood smears with Giemsa or Wright stain.
02
Examine red cells under oil immersion for small (1-2 micron) ring forms.
03
Look for the characteristic four-merozoite Maltese cross — pathognomonic for Babesia.
04
Estimate parasitemia (% of RBCs infected) — guides severity and treatment urgency.
05
Sensitivity is high in symptomatic patients but low in chronic low-level parasitemia.

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