False Positive Results in the Capillary Tube Fluorescent Staining Method for Malaria

摘要

Howell-Jolly bodies (HJB) are composed ofDNA which will apparently take the fluorescent dye used to stain the chromatin bodies of the malarial parasites (MP). While evaluating a capillary tube/fluorescent staining technique for malaria we came across this previously unreported false positive effect of HJB in ten cases, all negative microscopically for MP and not originally requested for that test All gave positive results, the degree of which correlated well with the frequency of HJB. The positivity concentrated in the upper red cell layer of the capillary tube where MP rings also concentrate.