The remote diagnosis of malaria using telemedicine or e-mailed images

We determined the ability of blinded remote expert microscopy to identify malaria parasites through transmission of malaria smear images via telemedicine and as e-mail attachments. Protocols for malaria smear transmission included: (1) transmission of sender-selected televised smears at various band...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Military medicine 2006-12, Vol.171 (12), p.1167-1171
Main Authors: Murray, Clinton K, Mody, Rupal M, Dooley, David P, Hospenthal, Duane R, Horvath, Lynn L, Moran, Kimberly A, Muntz, Ronald W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Communications satellites
Electronic Mail
Feasibility Studies
Humans
Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
Malaria
Malaria - parasitology
Malaria - pathology
Microscopy
Microscopy - methods
Military Medicine - methods
Military Personnel
Plasmodium falciparum - isolation & purification
Plasmodium vivax - isolation & purification
Remote Consultation
Species Specificity
Telemedicine
Texas
United States
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Summary:We determined the ability of blinded remote expert microscopy to identify malaria parasites through transmission of malaria smear images via telemedicine and as e-mail attachments. Protocols for malaria smear transmission included: (1) transmission of sender-selected televised smears at various bandwidths (Bw), (2) transmission of remote reader-directed televised smears at various Bw, and (3) transmission of digital photomicrographs as e-mail attachments. Twenty (14%) of 147 sender-selected, and 13 (6%) of 221 reader-directed, images were deemed unreadable by slide readers. The presence or absence of malaria was correctly identified in 98% of the remaining images. Sixty-four (34%) of 190 digital microphotographs were deemed unreadable, while the presence or absence of malaria was correctly identified in 100% of the remaining images. Correct speciation ranged from 45% to 83% across various transmission methods and Bw. The use of telemedicine and e-mail technology shows promise for the remote diagnosis of malaria.
ISSN:0026-4075
1930-613X
DOI:10.7205/MILMED.171.12.1167