Performance evaluation of malaria microscopists working at rechecking laboratories in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Microscopic diagnosis of Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood films has remained the standard laboratory method for diagnosing malaria. High quality performance of microscopists that examine blood slides in health facilities remains critically important. MATERIALS AND METHODS: species. RESULTS: (35/107; 32.7%). Participants working at hospital laboratories had the highest percentage (72.3 %, Kappa=0.51) of accurate species identification. Study participants that had participated in malaria microscopy and quality assurance trainings were significantly better at quantifying parasite densities (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The accuracy of parasite identification and quantification differed strongly between participants and expert microscopists. Therefore, regular competency assessment and training for malaria microscopists should be mandatory to assure proper diagnosis and management of malaria in Ethiopia.