Ova & Parasite Exam

Testing site      

Alaska State Public Health Laboratory – Anchorage 

Anchorage Lab Request Form 

Diseases 

• Giardiasis (beaver fever) 
• Amebiasis 
• Intestinal Parasites  

Rare/unusual parasites (Trichinosis, Leishmaniasis) are referred to a reference laboratory; please contact ASPHL or Epidemiology for more information. 

Organisms 

Protozoan and Metazoan parasites 

*Trichinella spp., Leishmania spp. by referral* 

Test Method 

• Formalin ethyl-acetate concentration wet mount and  
• Zinc-PVA Trichrome Stain Examination 

Availability

Routine testing   

Specimen type 

• Stool 
• Worms (visible parasites) 

Specimen collection instructions 

• Stool:  Collect stool in clean, dry container.  Add stool (walnut size formed stool or ≈5 mL of liquid) to 10% Formalin vial (pink top) and Zn PVA vial (gray top) to red fill line only. Do not overfill.   
• Worms:  Place worm in 10% Formalin (pink top) vial or leak-proof container with normal saline to cover or in 70% ethanol, cover completely.      
• Please provide travel history, if known. 

Supply Request Form

Stool Collection Procedure 

Please read all directions first and follow them carefully. Specimen should not be contaminated with water, urine, barium, antibiotics, or mineral oil. Contrast media interferes with testing; delay collection until one week after procedure. 

• Gather the required supplies.  
  • Disposable gloves  
  • A clean, dry container (like a margarine tub) or plastic wrap to stretch across the toilet to collect the stool.  
  • Transport container(s): Your provider will give you the appropriate containers.  
    • Pink  top vial contains 10% formalin 
    • Grey top vial contains zinc polyvinyl alcohol (Zn-PVA) 
  • Pen or marker to label the transport containers  
• Wash your hands before collecting the stool sample.  
  • Do not pass the specimen into the toilet.  
  • Do not pass the specimen directly into the collection vial.  
  • Do not urinate on the specimen or into the collection vial.  
  • Do not allow any water to mix with the specimen.  
• Put on gloves. Stool may contain pathogens that spread disease.  
• Pass stool into a clean, dry container. You can stretch plastic wrap loosely across the toilet bowl, between the seat and the base to catch the stool.  
  • Either solid or liquid stool can be collected.  
  • Samples from babies and young children may be collected from diapers lined with plastic wrap (if the stool is not contaminated with urine).  
• Carefully open each vial.  
  • Transfer a walnut size amount into the vial to fill vial to the red fill line only.  
  • Do not underfill or overfill the vials or mix up the vial lids.  
• Secure lid onto the transport container it came from. Shake the sample until the samples are well-mixed with the liquid in the vial.  
• Remove your gloves and wash your hands.  
• Label all the containers with the patient’s first and last name, date of birth, and the collection date.  
• Return the transport containers as directed. Make certain that all the vials are tightly capped to avoid leaks.  

Special Conditions 

Submit three samples collected 24-48 hours apart 

Storage and transport  

• Ambient temperature 
• Package, label, and ship as UN3373, Biological Specimen, Category B 

Ship to Alaska State Public Health Laboratory: Anchorage, ATTN: Clinical Microbiology 

Results  

• No parasites observed 
• Parasite observed (genus and species if available) 

A normal result is no parasites observed. 

Turnaround time  

3-5 days 

Resources