Background: Malaria is a killer disease which can be transmitted through transfusion of blood and blood products such as packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, platelets concentrate and cryoprecipitate. In medical setups, blood and its products are screened for other transfusion transmitted infections but not for malaria parasites. Recipient of blood and blood products are given antimalarial post transfusion.

Specific Objectives: The specific objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of malaria parasites among voluntary blood donors using Quantitative Buffy Coat, malaria Carestart^Tm cassette and also to determine the level of agreement between quantitative Buffy coat and malaria Carestart^TM cassette diagnostic techniques. Microscopic technique was used as the gold standard.

Design: The study applied across sectional descriptive study design.

Subjects: The study involved recruitment of 155 voluntary blood donors at Kenyatta National Hospital. The blood samples were subjected to three malaria screening techniques which included microscopy, quantitative buffy coat and malaria Carestart^Tm cassette.

Method: After blood collection from the blood donors, samples were screened for presence or absence of malaria parasites usingmalaria Carestart^TM cassette and Quantitative Buffy Coat techniques and microscopy which was used as the gold standard.

Results: The study revealed that the prevalence of malaria infection among voluntary donors by microscopy was 5/155(3.2%), Quantitative buffy coat was 6/155 (3.9%) and malaria Carestart^Tm cassettetechnique was 8/155 (5.2 %).

Conclusion: This study confirmed that the prevalence of Malaria parasites among blood donors that are seen at Kenyatta National Hospital was 3.2% by microscopic technique, quantitative Buffy coat 3.9% and Malaria Carestart TM Cassette technique 5.2%. This implied that blood donations contained some level of malaria parasites which is a healthy risk to patients under transfusion.

Keywords: Transfusion transmitted malaria parasites, Voluntary blood donors, Quantitative Buffy Coat, Blood products, Fluorescing parasites.

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Theresia Ndunda