Ova and Parasites, Trichrome Stain details
What Ova and Parasites, Trichrome Stain shows
Ova and parasites (O&P) testing looks for intestinal parasites and their eggs in stool. In this part of the test, a thin smear of your sample is stained with a trichrome stain, which colors the internal structures of single-celled parasites (protozoa) so they can be identified accurately under the microscope. It is especially useful for finding protozoa such as Giardia and Entamoeba, which can cause diarrhea and abdominal symptoms. A positive result identifies the organism seen. Parasites are shed on and off, so one negative sample does not exclude infection, and the result is read together with the concentration step.
Tests that include Ova and Parasites, Trichrome Stain
Diseases caused by human parasites remain, on a worldwide basis, among the principal causes of morbidity and mortality. Correct diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infection depends on proper collection, transport, detection, and identification of parasites in stool specimens. Symptoms range from malaise to death. Treatment is dependent upon examining multiple stool specimens due to the erratic shed rates of some parasites.
- Ova and Parasites, Concentration A concentration step in stool parasite testing that gathers parasite eggs, larvae and cysts so they are easier to find under the microscope.
- Ova and Parasites, Trichrome Stain A permanent trichrome-stained stool smear used to identify intestinal protozoa, such as Giardia, during ova and parasite testing.
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