QBC Paralens™ System

The QBC ParaLens System enables fluorescence microscopy at a fraction of the cost for detection of Malaria, TB, Trypanosomes and other blood-borne parasites.

Features of the QBC ParaLens System:

• Fast, Accurate detection and quantification of malarial parasites in capilary and venous blood.
• Accurate species identification  - including filaria in blood.
• Converts any conventional laboratory microscope into a low cost fluorescent microscope.
• Detects Malaria, TB, Trypanosomes and other blood-borne parasites.
• Quantifies the level of parasitaemia.
• QBC^® Paralens can perform tests for:
  Chlamydia, ANA, PCP, CMV: Acid-fast bacili in sputum, urine.
• Quick cell count with two part differential count.
• Platelet counts for monitoring dengue patients.
• Identifies the need for, and the most appropriate treatment.
• Can be used in the laboratory or the field.

The QBC Paralens is simple to use and requires no daily cleaning.  It is also sturdy with no liquid handling or moving parts.   

Method:
55-110 µL of blood is taken in a QBC™ Malaria tube coated with Acridine Orange, and centrifuged for 5 minutes.  When viewed under a fluorescence microscope, the malaria parasites are seen concentrated, shining in the background of dark Red Blood Cells.

Sensitivity:
The high volume of blood, the concentration of the parasites by centrifugation and the fluorescent staining of parasites, make this the most sensitive test available for the diagnosis of malaria. Unparalleled sensitivity, of one parasite in 2 µL, is possible, compared with 40 - 50 parasites per µL for Thick Film.  The loss of parasites can be up to 40% in conventional methods, whereas there is no loss of parasites in the processing of the QBC^® tube.  Up to 18% more positives are reported by QBC than the conventional Thick Film method.

Diagnosis:
All Plasmodium species are identified and quantified by the QBC Paralens system; Species differentiation is possible, enabling the Doctor to administer the right type of medication.

Paralens
A minature fluorescent microscope, other than use for QBC Malaria™ test can be used for Fluorescent test for ACID FAST BACILLI (AFB) MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS by using AUROMINE – fluorescent staining technique.

Paralens assembly:

• Microscope adapter is a cost-effective alternative to fluorescent microscopes.
• The UV microscope adapter is blue-violet light providing fibre optic illumination that can be attached to any conventional microscope.
• Specially designed to accept standard microscope oil.
• Consist of a focusing lens that passes white light from illuminator to the excitation filter.
• 470-490 nm wavelength excitation filter.
• Dichroic beam splitter.
• 1.0 NA60 x oil immersion lens.
• 520 nm wavelength barrier filter.
• Standard royal microscope society threading.

Download Manuals 

Manual

Malaria Atlas : The Atlas of Blood Parasite Morphologies

Articles to download

Gallagher, J. (2008) Screening for Malaria: The QBC Technique. CLI Magazine, September 2008

Armstrong, D. (2009) LED-based fluoroscopy and the ParaLens System: illuminating the future of TB Diagnostics. CLI Magazine, December 2009/January 2010

Download Literature

• QBC ParaLens Flyer
• Malaria Application Note
• TB Application Note 

The QBC Paralens System: Enabling fast, accurate detection and quantification of malaria in capillary and venous blood.