A 28-year-old woman from endemic malaria region in West Bengal presents with 5 days of fever, headache, and myalgia. She is 8 weeks pregnant. Blood smear examination shows banana-shaped gametocytes and ring forms with cytoplasmic dots. Hemoglobin is 9.2 g/dL. What is the most likely diagnosis, and which diagnostic method would be most appropriate for confirmation in this patient?