What is a thick smear for detection of malaria?

In this video, Dr. Sunil Dargar, MBBS, MD, Pathologist, New Delhi, will talk about the thick smear used for detection of malaria. During rainy season, the vector borne diseases increase manifold. Malaria is one of the most important and frequently found disease during rainy season. When malaria investigations are asked for, then both thick and thin smear should be asked for. Dr. Dargar will describe both thin and thick smear. Thin smear is prepared in a laboratory while doing a peripheral smear examination. A small drop of blood is spread over a large surface area and it takes a longer time to scan the area for detecting the malarial parasite. The advantage of the thick smear is 3-4 drops of blood can be packed in a small area and malarial parasites present are detected very quickly. Thus, there is an increased accuracy in malarial parasite detection is seen with thick smear.