Malaria Microscopy Quality Assurance Manual - Version 2

This second version takes into account the many years of experience of several agencies in the various aspects of quality assurance (QA) described in the Manual. In particular, the sections on assessment of competence in malaria microscopy are based on use of this method by the WHO regional offices for South-East Asia and the Western Pacific, in collaboration with the WHO Coordinating Centre for Malaria in Australia, and by the WHO Regional Office for Africa in collaboration with Amref Health Africa. The section on setting up and managing an international reference malaria slide bank is based on the work of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific in collaboration with the WHO Coordinating Centre for Malaria Diagnosis in the Philippines. The section on proficiency testing for malaria microscopy is based on work in the WHO Regional Office for Africa in collaboration with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases in South Africa and experience in regional initiatives by Amref Health Africa. The section on slide validation is based on work by Madecins sans Frontiares, and the section on outreach training and supportive supervision (OTSS) is based on work by the President’s Malaria Initiative Malaria Care Project, Medical Care Development International and Amref Health Africa.