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Full Blood Count vs Malaria Test — Do You Need Both?

With fever, both together are far more useful than either alone. The malaria test answers the specific question; the FBC tells you where to look if the answer is no — whi

Side by side

Malaria test

Looks specifically for malaria parasites or antigen

Strength: Answers one question definitively

Limitation: Tells you nothing if negative — and fever with a negative malaria test is common

Full blood count

Measures red cells, white cells and platelets

Strength: Shows whether the pattern looks bacterial or viral, detects anaemia, and flags a low platelet count

Limitation: Does not identify a specific organism

Which to choose

With fever, both together are far more useful than either alone. The malaria test answers the specific question; the FBC tells you where to look if the answer is no — which happens often, and is where presumptive antimalarial treatment goes wrong.

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Malaria & Typhoid Test Full Blood Count

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General information, not medical advice. All visits by appointment.