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22919 Ova and Parasites, Special (Complete)

Ova and Parasites, Special (Complete)
Test Code: OPS
Synonyms/Keywords
​O and P exam
Test Components

For feces, ​special parasitology consists of specimen concentration, trichrome stain, and a microscopic examination including a wet mount & trichrome stain for protozoa, worms, and ova. A modified acid-fast stain for coccidia (Cyclospora, Isospora and Cryptosporidium) will be performed upon request at the time of test requisition.

For other specimens, one or more of the techniques listed above will be used upon the specimen source.

Specimen Requirements
Fasting Required Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
​No ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Feces​ ​ Total-Fix™ vial Para Pak 10% Formalin & Zinc Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) vials One vial Total-Fix™ vial ​ ​
​ Fresh stool in a clean, leakproof container​ 5 g​ 1 g​ ​
Fluid​ Sterile, leakproof container​ ​ 5 mL​ 0.2 mL​ ​
Urine​ Sterile, leakproof container​ ​ 100 mL​ 10 mL​ ​
Respiratory secretions​ Unpreserved ​  5 mL​ 1 mL​ ​
Tissue, sigmoidoscopy​ Sterile, leakproof container with small amount of saline​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​Duodenal aspirate ​See Test Information Section, below. ​ ​ ​ ​
Collection Processing Instructions
Feces - Fresh stool specimen placed into a Total-Fix™ collection vial. Fresh feces can be submitted in a clean sterile container or diaper & must be received in the laboratory within the acceptable time period for analysis. Feces should not be mixed with urine. Specimens left unpreserved for more than 30 minutes may produce misleading results. Three consecutive specimens obtained 1-3 days apart are recommended for increased detection. Separate test orders must be placed. If more than one specimen is collected within a 24 hour time period, only one will be accepted by the lab.
 
Urine - When looking for Schistosoma haematobium, it is preferred to collect the urine sample around noon and following physical exercise and fluid intake. In patients where S. haematobium is suspected, but eggs cannot be recovered in urine, a rectal biopsy is recommended.
For patients suspicious of Trichomonas vaginalis, molecular methods are recommended.  Refer to Trichomonas vaginalis, Nucleic Acid Method (TRICNAM) or Acute Vaginitis by DNA Probe (BDDNA) in our test reference manual for more information.  Respiratory secretions - The preferred preservative/collection method depends on the parasite in question. When looking to rule out Amoeba (primarily Entamoeba histolytica), specimens should be submitted fresh and sent to the lab within 2 hours. 
 
Sputum samples should have minimal saliva. 
 
Sigmoidoscopy - Aspirate from the mucosal surface or a visible lesion. The best time to collect a sample is following a bowel movement or 2-3 hours following purgation by a laxative.
 
For more information on Specimen Collection Media/Swab, see Specimen Transport Pictorial
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Preserved feces Room Temperature​ 2 months
​Fresh feces Room Temperature​
30 minutes - liquid stool
1 hour - semisolid stool
2 hours - formed stool
Respiratory Secretions - fresh​ Room Temperature​ Examine within 2 hours for E. histolytica​
Sigmoidoscopy​ Room Temperature​ Examine immediately​
Urine​ Room Temperature​
S. haematobium - collect around noon
Rejection Criteria
Fresh stool received unpreserved after time intervals listed above
Feces mixed with urine​
Feces collected <1 week following antibiotic therapy or barium/laxative treatment​
Feces in Para Pak C & S vial (Cary Blair)​
Respiratory secretions received >2hr post collection and looking for E. histolytica​
Respiratory secretions with excess saliva ​
Urine/Urogenital sample for T. vaginalis >1hr post collection ​
Sigmoidoscopy - delay in transport to lab​
​Unpreserved specimens > 4 days old
​Leaking specimens
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
Marshfield​ Monday through Friday​ 1 day​ Ethyl acetate concentration, microscopic exam, and trichrome stain​
Test Information

Special parasitology consists of specimen concentration, trichrome stain, and a microscopic examination including a wet mount & trichrome stain for protozoa, worms, and ova. Special stains for Cyclospora, Isospora, Cryptosporidium and Microsporidium will be performed upon request at the time of test requisition.

This test should be ordered for: 1) patients who have a history of travel or residency in a developing country or endemic area, 2) AIDS or immunosuppressed patients, 3) patients in whom roundworms or tapeworms are suspected, or 4) patients in whom symptoms persist despite a negative test for Cryptosporidium and Giardia antigens.

Cryptosporidium and Giardia are responsible for the majority of parasitic infections in the United States and 85% of the significant protozoa recovered in our laboratory. In the absence of the above conditions or history, an Ova and Parasite, Routine (Giardia and Crypt) should be ordered. Refer to our test reference manual entry for this test for more information.

The primary parasites to be found in duodenal aspirates are Cryptosporidium, Giardia and Strongyloides. To diagnose, order Ova and Parasite, Routine (Giardia and Crypt), test code OPRCG and include the source description. All orders for Ova and Parasite Special on a duodenal aspirate will be changed to Ova and Parasite, Routine (Giardia and Crypt).

Call Parasitology section within the Microbiology Lab at 1-6141 (715-221-6141) with questions.

Total-Fix™ is a registered trademark of Medical Chemical Corporation

Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
​Marshfield No parasites found​
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
87209​ ​ ​ Special Stain​ ​
87177​ ​ ​ Ova and Parasite​ ​
Synonyms/Keywords
​O and P exam
Test Components

For feces, ​special parasitology consists of specimen concentration, trichrome stain, and a microscopic examination including a wet mount & trichrome stain for protozoa, worms, and ova. A modified acid-fast stain for coccidia (Cyclospora, Isospora and Cryptosporidium) will be performed upon request at the time of test requisition.

For other specimens, one or more of the techniques listed above will be used upon the specimen source.

Ordering Applications
Ordering Application Description
​Centricity ​O & P, Special (Complete)
​Cerner ​O and P, Special (Complete)
If the ordering application you are looking for is not listed, contact your local laboratory for assistance.
Specimen Requirements
Fasting Required Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
​No ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Feces​ ​ Total-Fix™ vial Para Pak 10% Formalin & Zinc Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) vials One vial Total-Fix™ vial ​ ​
​ Fresh stool in a clean, leakproof container​ 5 g​ 1 g​ ​
Fluid​ Sterile, leakproof container​ ​ 5 mL​ 0.2 mL​ ​
Urine​ Sterile, leakproof container​ ​ 100 mL​ 10 mL​ ​
Respiratory secretions​ Unpreserved ​  5 mL​ 1 mL​ ​
Tissue, sigmoidoscopy​ Sterile, leakproof container with small amount of saline​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​Duodenal aspirate ​See Test Information Section, below. ​ ​ ​ ​
Collection Processing
Feces - Fresh stool specimen placed into a Total-Fix™ collection vial. Fresh feces can be submitted in a clean sterile container or diaper & must be received in the laboratory within the acceptable time period for analysis. Feces should not be mixed with urine. Specimens left unpreserved for more than 30 minutes may produce misleading results. Three consecutive specimens obtained 1-3 days apart are recommended for increased detection. Separate test orders must be placed. If more than one specimen is collected within a 24 hour time period, only one will be accepted by the lab.
 
Urine - When looking for Schistosoma haematobium, it is preferred to collect the urine sample around noon and following physical exercise and fluid intake. In patients where S. haematobium is suspected, but eggs cannot be recovered in urine, a rectal biopsy is recommended.
For patients suspicious of Trichomonas vaginalis, molecular methods are recommended.  Refer to Trichomonas vaginalis, Nucleic Acid Method (TRICNAM) or Acute Vaginitis by DNA Probe (BDDNA) in our test reference manual for more information.  Respiratory secretions - The preferred preservative/collection method depends on the parasite in question. When looking to rule out Amoeba (primarily Entamoeba histolytica), specimens should be submitted fresh and sent to the lab within 2 hours. 
 
Sputum samples should have minimal saliva. 
 
Sigmoidoscopy - Aspirate from the mucosal surface or a visible lesion. The best time to collect a sample is following a bowel movement or 2-3 hours following purgation by a laxative.
 
For more information on Specimen Collection Media/Swab, see Specimen Transport Pictorial
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Preserved feces Room Temperature​ 2 months
​Fresh feces Room Temperature​
30 minutes - liquid stool
1 hour - semisolid stool
2 hours - formed stool
Respiratory Secretions - fresh​ Room Temperature​ Examine within 2 hours for E. histolytica​
Sigmoidoscopy​ Room Temperature​ Examine immediately​
Urine​ Room Temperature​
S. haematobium - collect around noon
Rejection Criteria
Fresh stool received unpreserved after time intervals listed above
Feces mixed with urine​
Feces collected <1 week following antibiotic therapy or barium/laxative treatment​
Feces in Para Pak C & S vial (Cary Blair)​
Respiratory secretions received >2hr post collection and looking for E. histolytica​
Respiratory secretions with excess saliva ​
Urine/Urogenital sample for T. vaginalis >1hr post collection ​
Sigmoidoscopy - delay in transport to lab​
​Unpreserved specimens > 4 days old
​Leaking specimens
Test Components

For feces, ​special parasitology consists of specimen concentration, trichrome stain, and a microscopic examination including a wet mount & trichrome stain for protozoa, worms, and ova. A modified acid-fast stain for coccidia (Cyclospora, Isospora and Cryptosporidium) will be performed upon request at the time of test requisition.

For other specimens, one or more of the techniques listed above will be used upon the specimen source.

Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
​Marshfield No parasites found​
For more information visit:
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
Marshfield​ Monday through Friday​ 1 day​ Ethyl acetate concentration, microscopic exam, and trichrome stain​
For billing questions, see Contacts
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
87209​ ​ ​ Special Stain​ ​
87177​ ​ ​ Ova and Parasite​ ​
For most current information refer to the Marshfield Laboratory online reference manual.