Ficoll fractionation for the separation of parasitized erythrocytes from malaria infected blood.

Separation and concentration of parasitized erythrocytes from infected blood was achieved by centrifugation of a sample placed in a layer on top of a cushion of a Ficoll solution with a critical density. Pure suspensions of parasitized erythrocytes were obtained from Plasmodium berghei infected rodent blood, whereas results with P. vivax infected monkey (Aotus trivirgatus) blood were partially successful. Titration experiments revealed that the parasitized erythrocytes obtained by Ficoll fractionation were infective.