Malaria Reference Laboratory (Malaria RL)
The Malaria Reference Laboratory provides an integrated service for public health in relation to malaria. It combines reference and diagnostic parasitology of malaria with surveillance of all imported malaria reported in the United Kingdom (UK), analysing the results and using these, together with wide consultation to develop national policy on prevention of imported malaria, which it then disseminates widely. The advisory activities interpret policy for particular individual needs, especially through the health service. Policy is moved into implementation by the laboratory staff writing for various medical, pharmaceutical and lay audiences, briefing the media, contributing to continuing medical education for doctors and practice nurses, and responding to telephone queries from them and from the public.
These laboratory functions are supported in the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) by a programme of basic research in the UK and of applied research and development in endemic countries and on a smaller scale in the UK, and they are linked to an advisory service on international malaria control.
HPA Malaria Reference Laboratory
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Keppel Street
London
WC1E 7HT
Director:
Prof Peter Chiodini
Advisory service
Malaria prevention advice for the general public
Members of the general public are advised to consult a health professional, eg their GP or a travel health advisor, for malaria prevention and other travel health advice specific to their particular travel plans. They may also wish to read the ACMP guidelines, but these are not a substitute for a consultation with a health professional.
Guidelines for health professionals: Malaria prevention guidelines for British travellers.
The laboratory has also a telephone line for doctors, practice nurses and other health professionals, providing further advice. The line is available from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (except bank holidays). (Times may vary.)
Healthcare professionals tel: 020 7636 3924
Advice for health professionals advising travellers on malaria and other travel health issues is also available from the National Travel Health Network and Centre at http://www.nathnac.org.
Diagnostic Laboratory
For advice on laboratory diagnosis:
Tel: 020 7927 2427
Fax no: 020 7637 0248
The 
Malaria Request Form (PDF, 96 KB) can be downloaded.
Laboratory users can download a copy of the MRL user handbook (PDF, 164 KB)
. Please note that this document is valid at the time of download only and is subject to change.
Frequently asked questions (from the Guidelines above)
Available to view on the website, or to download as a PDF file
Links to other web sites
Please note that the Health Protection Agency does not endorse the content of any of these sites.
LSHTM Malaria Centre
World Health Organization
LSHTM Diagnostic Parasitology Laboratory
Image:Plasmodium falciparum in a thin blood film