Mehul DhordaEl Hadji BaJ. Kevin BairdJohn BarnwellDavid BellJane Y. CarterArjen DondorpLenny EkawatiMichelle GattonIveth GonzálezPhilippe J. GuérinSandra IncardonaKen LilleyDidier MenardFrançois NostenPeter ObareBernhards OgutuPiero L. OlliaroRic N. PriceStéphane ProuxAndrew R. RamsayJohn C. ReederKamolrat SilamutCheikh SokhnaOxford University Clinical Research UnitInstitut Pasteur du CambodgeInstitut de Recherche pour le Développement DakarKenya Medical Research InstituteAmref Health AfricaShoklo Malaria Research UnitMenzies School of Health ResearchCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMahidol UniversityQueensland University of Technology QUTSchool of MedicineNuffield Department of MedicineUNICEFTerre des Hommes FoundationIndependent ConsultantFINDAustralian Defence Force Malaria and Infectious Disease InstituteWorldWide Antimalarial Resistance NetworkWorldwide Antimalarial Resistance Network2020-10-052020-10-052020-09-04Malaria Journal. Vol.19, No.1 (2020)147528752-s2.0-85090510189https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/59113© 2020 The Author(s). Microscopy performed on stained films of peripheral blood for detection, identification and quantification of malaria parasites is an essential reference standard for clinical trials of drugs, vaccines and diagnostic tests for malaria. The value of data from such research is greatly enhanced if this reference standard is consistent across time and geography. Adherence to common standards and practices is a prerequisite to achieve this. The rationale for proposed research standards and procedures for the preparation, staining and microscopic examination of blood films for malaria parasites is presented here with the aim of improving the consistency and reliability of malaria microscopy performed in such studies. These standards constitute the core of a quality management system for clinical research studies employing microscopy as a reference standard. They can be used as the basis for the design of training and proficiency testing programmes as well as for procedures and quality assurance of malaria microscopy in clinical research.Mahidol UniversityImmunology and MicrobiologyMedicineReviewSCOPUS10.1186/s12936-020-03352-z