Plasmodium Falciparum Blood Smear.
Key features suggesting Plasmodium falciparum:
- extreme parasitemia
- normocytic RBCs (vivax, ovale prefer big reticulocytes)
- thin trophozoites
- multiples per RBC
- "applique" edge forms
- P. falciparum causes ~75% of human malaria cases
- Banana-shaped gametocytes are only in P.f. but rare in blood smears - don't count on seeing these!
- Seeing ONLY trophs/rings, no schizonts/gametocytes, (in my experience) is more common in P.f.

Rich Davis, PhD, D(ABMM), MLS @richdavisphd

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