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Testing
Parasitology
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Fecal Materials Specimen Preparation and Submission Parasitology requires special training, skill, and sound judgment to recognize true parasites and differentiate them from spurious objects and artifacts.
Procedure for Requesting Tests
Requests for tests should be made on the test requisition forms supplied from VITA-TECH. When requesting a test, it is important to complete the patient information section on the requisition form. Details such as the age of the patient, sex, dates of onset, and symptoms are important to selecting the appropriate testing procedures. Good clinical and other relevant information, and specific requests (e.g. Giardia, Cryptosporidium etc.) will ensure rapid and relevant testing, reporting and interpretation.
Specimen Collection Instructions
Reliable diagnoses of parasitic diseases begin with satisfactory specimen collection and submission, and the importance of properly collected specimens cannot be overemphasized. Inadequate samples and old or poorly preserved specimens are usually of little or no value in establishing a diagnosis and may lead to erroneous conclusions.
Reporting
In addition to species and stages of parasites found in the specimens, the following are also reported if present in the specimens.
Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs): if present in large numbers it may suggest non-specific inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis). Budding yeast cells and or pseudohyphae: if present in fresh or freshly preserved stool it may suggest a potential source for systemic fungal infection, particularly in the immuno- suppressed patients. Please download this chart for information on suspect parasite, route of parasite entry to host, location of the parasite in host, source of infection (intermediate hosts, vectors etc.), type of specimens to be collected for laboratory test, and therapeutic agents for parasitic infections. |
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