Our results also showed that 1.36% (4/294) of the malaria infected patients were diagnosed by the examination of double blood films, but not by either a single thin blood film(0.34%; 1/294) or thin blood film (1.02%; 3/294). Although the difference in the prevalence was not statistically significant (P>0.05), microscopic examination of double blood films; especially thin and thick blood films, is more helpful in surveillance for asymptomatic malaria infections due to the insufficient sensitivity of a single blood film for malaria detection[9]. In accordance with reliable diagnosis such as
PCR technique, the collection of blood samples on filter paper is therefore recommended for differential diagnosis and epidemiological studies of malaria infections[21-25].