Fig. 1From: Application of magnetic cytosmear for the estimation of Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte density and detection of asexual stages in asymptomatic childrenPrinciple of Magnetic Deposition Microscopy (MDM). The cell suspension (a) is pumped through a channel comprising manifold platen with inlet and outlet ports (b), channel cut-out spacer (c) and a transparent deposition slide (d), as indicated by curved arrows. The flow channel assembly (b–d) is pressed against the interpolar gap of a permanent magnet (e) generating magnetic force on the magnetically susceptible cells due to a highly non-uniform fringing field, as indicated by the magnetic energy density map (where H is the magnetic field strength in amperes per m, A/m, and B is the magnetic flux density, in tesla, T). The captured cells form a deposit (f) amenable to staining and microscopic analysis. The MDM cell deposit (g) shows enrichment in the magnetically susceptible cells compared to the original sample (h)—here the malaria parasite-infected erythrocyte culture (NF54 strain, 40× oil magnification). G gametocyte, MG male gametocyte, T trophozoiteBack to article page