Ova and Parasite (O&P) Examinations

Introduction | Macroscopic | Microscopic |

Microscopic Examination - Ova and Parasite Examination

Introduction | Direct Wet Smear | Concentration | Permanent Stained Smear

Permanent Stained Smear

Introduction | Trichrome Stain | Iron Hematoxylin Stain | Modified Iron Hematoxylin Stain | Procedure Review

Iron Hematoxylin Stain

Results and Reporting

Protozoan trophozoites and cysts will be readily seen, although helminth eggs and larvae may not be easily identified because of excess stain retention (wet smears from the concentration procedure[s] are recommended for detection of these organisms). Yeasts (single and budding cells and pseudohyphae) and humans cells (macrophages, PMNs, and RBCs) can be identified. The following quantitation chart can be used for examination of permanent stained smears with the oil immersion lens (100 x objective; total magnification of x 1,000).

Quantitation of parasites, cells, yeasts, and artifacts

Quantity	No. 10 oil immersion fields ( x 1,000)
Few	2
Moderate	3-9
Many	10

Report the organism and stage (do not use abbreviations).
Examples: Entamoeba coli trophozoites and Dientamoeba fragilis trophozoites
Quantitate the number of B. hominis seen (rare, few, moderate, many). Do not quantitate other protozoa.
Example: Many Blastocystis hominis
Note and quantitate the presence of human cells.
Example: Moderate WBCs, few RBCs, few macrophages, rare Charcot-Leyden crystals
Report and quantitate yeast cells.
Example: Many budding yeast cells and few pseudohyphae
Save positive slides for future reference. Label prior to storage (name, patient number, organisms present).