Test Code OPSTS Ova and Parasites, Concentrate and Permanent Smear
Additional Codes
Epic: LAB6872
Quest: 2679
Specimen Required
Patient Preparation: Interfering substances-bismuth, barium (wait 7-10 days), antimicrobial agents (wait 2 weeks), gall bladder dye (wait 3 weeks after procedure).
Specimen Type: Preserved stool
Collection Container/Type
Preferred: Total-Fix transport vial
Acceptable: 10% formalin AND Polyvinyl Alcohol Transport (PVA) vials, Sodium Para-Pak SVT transport vial
Specimen Volume: 10 grams or 10 mL
Collection Instructions:
- Place fresh stool in preservative vials within 30 minutes of collection.
- Add stool to bring the liquid level to the "fill to here" line on the vial.
- Mix well.
- Send specimens at room temperature in the same shipping container.
Additional Information:
- If parasite infestation is strongly suspected, collet at least 3 stool specimens every other day, since a single specimen can be negative. If Giardia is strongly suspected, see CRYGI, Cryptosporidium/Giardia Antigen
Specimen Type: BAL
Collection Container/Type
Preferred: Sterile container
Acceptable: 10% formalin
Specimen Volume: 10 mL
Collection Instructions:
- The specimen should be a deep expectorated sputum, preferably collected in the early morning.
- A 24-hour sputum collection is also accpetable.
- Submit in a sterile screw-capped container, unpreserved or in 10% formalin to increase stability.
Specimen Type: Urine
Collection Container/Type: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: 25 mL
Collection Instructions:
- Urine may be submitted unpreserved for exam for Schistosoma.
- Collect at mid-day.
- Peak egg secretion occurs between noon and 3 p.m.
- Do not submit first morning specimen.
- In patient with hematuria, eggs may be found trapped in blood and mucous in the terminal portion (last-voided portion) of the urine.
Specimen Minimum Volume
5 grams or 5 mL of stool
10 mL urine (unpreserved)
2 mL sputum or BAL
Specimen Stability
Stool (preserved)
Room temperature: 6 months
Refrigerated: 6 months
Frozen: Unacceptable
Urine, Sputum, BAL (unpreserved)
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 48 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable
Sputum, BAL (preserved)
Room temperature: 6 months
Refrigerated: Unacceptable
Frozen: Unacceptable
Reference Range
No ova and parasites seen
Rejection Due To
Unpreserved stool • Specimens containing barium • Stool preserved in medium other than parasitology fixative • Received frozen • Stool submitted in expired transport vial • Preserved urine • Unpreserved sputum and urine received room temperature or frozen • Liver abscess or aspirate • Stool submitted in EcoFix® transport vial
Report Available
5-7 days
Clinical Significance
Diseases caused by human parasites remain on a worldwide basis among the principle 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.
Method Name
Microscopic Examination of Concentrate • Permanent Stained
Smear
Aliases
O & P
Ova & Parasite
Day(s) Performed
Daily
CPT Codes
87177, 87209