Biospecimen Collection for Malaria

In addition to completion of a study questionnaire and anthropometric measurements, study enrollment procedures include a finger prick by sterile lancet for small blood volume sampling (300 ul; Sarstedt microvette CB300 with EDTA), thin and thick blood smears, blood spots (Whatman FTA Blood Stain Cards), and point of care (POC) testing (e.g. hemoglobin [HemoCue America, Brea, CA], malaria rapid diagnostic test [RDT, described below]). All individuals are screened for Plasmodium infection by RDT and species-specific PCR. Vacutainers (5 ml, BD ACD) of venous blood are requested from individuals found to be Plasmodium positive by RDT. All vacutainers and small volume microvettes are immediately refrigerated on ice and shipped overnight in insulated coolers to the main laboratory where they are processed. Blood components (e.g. red blood cells (RBC) pellet, plasma) are isolated and stored at −80°C until assayed.