Blood specimens |
||
| Test name | Type of Blood Sample | Special instructions |
| Malaria species identification, TAT = 1 day |
Unclotted, EDTA blood | Clotted blood is unsuitable |
| Parasite count/parasitaemia, TAT = 1 day |
Unclotted, EDTA blood | Clotted blood is unsuitable |
| Antigen test for Plasmodium falciparum, TAT = ½ day |
Unclotted, EDTA blood | Clotted blood is unsuitable |
| Antibody test for malaria | Not performed in parasitology | |
| Microfilaria or Filaria or Wuchereria bancrofti or elephantiasis or Loa loa, TAT = 1 day |
Unclotted, EDTA blood | Blood sampling should be performed at the correct times depending on the suspected filarial species. |
| Antigen test for Wuchereria bancrofti (lymphatic filariasis or elephantiasis), TAT = ½ day | Unclotted, EDTA blood | Clotted blood is unsuitable |
| Sleeping sickness or Trypanosomes, TAT = 1 day |
Unclotted, EDTA blood, Fresh CSF | Clotted blood is unsuitable |
| Relapsing fever (Borrelia duttoni or B. recurrentis), TAT = 1 day |
Unclotted, EDTA blood | Clotted blood is unsuitable |
| Babesia, TAT = 1 day |
Unclotted, EDTA blood | Clotted blood is unsuitable |
Stool specimens |
||
| Test name | Special instructions | |
| Identification of all human nematodes including:
Ascaris lumbricoides (common roundworm) |
None
TAT = 1 day Specimens, that may take longer than a day to reach the laboratory, should ideally be preserved in an equal quantity of 10% formalin |
|
| Identification of all human cestodes including:
Tapeworm (Taenia saginata/solium) |
TAT = 2 days | |
| Identification of all human trematodes including:
Bilharzia (Schistosoma mansoni/haematobium) |
TAT = 1 day | |
| Identification of all human protozoa including:
Isospora belli/ hominis |
TAT = 1 day | |
| Microsporidia species identification | TAT = 3 days | |
| Amoebae (including Entamoeba histolytica) | Specimen must reach laboratory within 30 minutes of sampling. Don’t add preservative. TAT = 1 day for microscopy |
|
Other types of specimens |
||
| Type of specimen | Test | Special instructions |
| Induced sputum or bronchial washings or BAL (bronchoalveolar lavage) TAT = 1 day |
IFA for PCP (Pneumocystis jiroveci, previously known as carinii) | Sputum is not an optimal specimen. BAL is preferable. |
| Sputum TAT = 1 day |
Larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis | Larvae may be infective: handle with care |
| Urine TAT = 1 day |
Bilharzia (Schistosoma haematobium); Trichomonas vaginalis | At least 5 ml urine is required |
| Sticky tape swab TAT = 1 day |
Pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis) | Early morning sticky tape swab is the optimal specimen. Eggs may be infective: handle with care |
| Liver abscess fluid or cyst fluid TAT = 1 day |
Amoebic liver abscess (Entamoeba histolytica) | Specimen must reach laboratory within 30 minutes of sampling |
| Cyst fluid/ sputum TAT = 1 day |
Hydatid hooklets and scolices of Echinococcus species | None |
| Worm or proglottid (egg packet) TAT = 1 day for worm ID, 2 days for proglottids |
Worm and tapeworm identification | Submit proglottids in saline |
| Bone marrow or liver biopsy or skin biopsy/ impression smears TAT = 2 days |
Leishmania species | Submit skin biopsy in saline |
| Corneal scrapings or biopsy or contact lenses & solutions TAT = 1 month |
Acanthamoeba keratitis | Contact Parasitology Unit before taking samples to make arrangements for sampling & culture |