Automated malarial detection with the Abbott Cell-Dyn 4000 hematology analyzer

Flow cytometry and automated hematology analyzers have both been used to detect malarial parasites in peripheral blood samples. The Cell Dyn 4000 (Abbott, Santa Clara, CA) is an automated hematology analyzer that uses propidium iodide to measure DNA fluorescence. Using the Cell Dyn 4000, we studied peripheral blood samples from 3 patients who had malaria. In all 3 patients, abnormal clusters of cells were seen, as well as small particles with bright DNA fluorescence, most probably representing free malarial parasites. We conclude that the presence of malaria can be suspected based on the scatterplots produced by the Cell Dyn 4000.