You may need this test if you live or have recently traveled to an area where malaria is common and you have symptoms of malaria. Most people will have symptoms within 14 days of being bitten by an infected mosquito.

Can you test for malaria before symptoms?

Detecting the presence of the parasite before symptoms appear can save lives because malaria often erupts just days after the parasite can be detected. The saliva test detects a novel biomarker for Plasmodium falciparum parasites.

What is the window period for malaria?

What is the incubation period for malaria? Following the mosquito bite, there is about a seven- to 30-day period before symptoms appear (incubation period). The incubation period for P. vivax is usually 10-17 days but can be much longer (about one year and rarely, as long as 30 years!).