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Parasitology
Other Specimen Preparation and Submission
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Fecal Materials Specimen Preparation and Submission
Other Specimen
Other materials such as blood, tissue scrapings, urine, aspirates, specimens obtained by biopsy, worms etc may also be submitted depending on parasites suspected or for identification of the worms or ectoparasites.
Worms, tapeworm segments
Adult worms or proglottids of tapeworms are passed with or without fecal material. They can be picked out of feces and placed in a bottle of saline or water and submitted immediately to the laboratory. If submission is likely to be delayed (longer than 24 hours), they should be placed in SAF or 10% formalin solution.
Aspirates, body fluids, nasal discharges
These specimens should be collected in a clean container and submitted within 2-3 hours after collection. If submission is likely to be delayed, the specimen should be preserved in SAF solution or 10% formalin immediately after collection.
Biopsied materials
If protozoan infections are suspected, impression smears should be prepared by gently pressing the biopsied tissue onto a microscopic slide. Then submit the smears along with the remaining materials in saline or SAF solution.
Urine
For parasitological examination, urine specimens can be submitted in a clean plastic container.
Blood
In case of Babesia or other protozoa, blood drawn in a lavender-top tube should be submitted for examination. If there is likely to be delayed in sending the blood to the laboratory, prepare thick and thin blood films at the time the blood is drawn, and submit them along with the tube of blood (the blood tube should be kept at room temperature, NOT in the refrigerator).
Fleas, lice and other insects
They should be submitted in a screw-capped container or preserved in 70% alcohol and sent to the laboratory.
Mites
For collection of mites from the affected areas, scrape with an oily scalpel the crest of a fold of patient’s skin several times in the same direction. Skin scraping should be taken from near the edge of an active lesion, avoiding the inclusion of large amounts of dry crusts and hair. Stop scraping when a slight amount of blood appears. Transfer the scraping from the scalpel blade into the drop of oil on a microscopic slide, using a slight rotary motion. Apply a coverglass to the scraping on the slide by gently lowering the coverglass. Additional oil may be added at the coverglass edge to fill the space beneath it. Do not press on the coverglass. Submit the slide to the laboratory in a slide holder.
For ear mites, introduce a cotton swab into the external auditory canal and rotate it gently. The swab is then placed in a clean tube and sent to the laboratory.
Ticks
If it is at all possible, submit intact live ticks in a clean screw-capped container. To remove a tick attached to the body, gently pull the tick off with the fingers. However, there is a definite danger of breaking off the mouthparts of ticks, which are stuck deep into skin. If a hypodermic needle or scalpel is at hand, gently pull the tick so as to make a tent of the skin surrounding the site of attachment and then slip the point of hypodermic needle or scalpel under the mouthparts. Then gently raise the instrument, thus removing the mouthparts with a minimum of tissue.
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