Feasibility of computer screening of blood films for the detection of malaria parasites.

This paper considers the feasibility of automatic screening procedures for detecting malaria parasites in blood smears prepared in the field. A simple programme for pattern recognition by computer has been developed for thin blood films that identifies parasites as densely stained particles within an erythrocyte. The parasites are detected correctly, but platelets falling accidentally within the outline of an erythrocyte and perhaps reticulocytes may be wrongly classified as parasites. The results indicate that automated detection of parasites is technically feasible but that the technique needs to be refined to reduce the incidence of false positives. A substantial increase in processing speed is required if the automatic procedure is to be economically feasible in screening programmes. The complexity of the equipment and the need for well prepared blood smears point to a possible use of the technique in laboratory checks but not under usual field conditions.