Testing for parasites: FAQ
 

:can

THIS MAY BE OBVIOUS, BUT I AM ISSUING A GROSS ALERT
:giggle

So, there are a few ways to test for presence of intestinal parasites (hereafter referred to as IP ) and it seems from what we are reading and our personal experiences that it is often not done correctly by medical providers.

Let's learn more about it!

1. Stool test for ova and parasites.
this test will detect many types of IP, both "worms" and single-cell.
It should be done in a set of three samples. They all should be a few days apart, and it's best if there are at least 14 days b/w two samples. This is to ensure than any type of IP is seen, as they all have vastly different life cycles, and laying/hatching periods.

according the article above
If you collect stool into a regular 'cup' that has no preservative in it, then it must be examined w/in 3 hours. that means it needs to be in the lab, ready, under the scope in that time, not brought into the office in that time. after 3 hrs structures may not be recognizable.

So, the test itself is essentially someone looking at the sample under the scope. They are looking for structures, for heads, tails, etc.
Question is: what happens if the tech. does not recognize the structure? what if s/he is not knowledgeable, diligent enough? :shrug3 idk

Limitations of stool tests:

Pinworms lay eggs outside the body, around the anus, and are tested for by "scotch tape" test, not stool exam.

2. Antigen stool test.

This test will only detect a few common types of IP. giardia, cryptosporidium, or E. histolytica are the ones i believe the test is available for.

It is a lot more definite than just exam for ova and parasites, but only works for IP listed above.

This is also a stool test, not a blood test.

3. Antibody test.

This is a blood test. It will determine if you have ever been in contact with a particular type of IP. It cannot tell you if you have it right now. It cannot tell you if you are cured or not.

Some docs may use this after Complete Blood Count with Dif. (cbc with dif) shows elevated eosinophils. But there can be other causes, such as allergies.


Other notes:

insurance coverage has a lot to do with it, imo. Some may cover just one O&P, and so that is what a doc will do. :doh
if i ever have this done under my insurance, I will be discussing this with the doc. is he doing as he thinks it should be done, or as insurance allows?

Re. seeing things in stool:
I am not an expert on IP. But I had the honor of enjoying a kick-butt microbiology course with a Dr. M whose goal was to make us experts with the scope. I learned a lot. One thing in particular being that it is a serious science. Things a very often not what they seem. What I am sure is a worm, turns into a fiber under the scope, what i am sure is nothing, turns into *something* when greatly magnified.
I am very afraid :shiver of passing something that resembles an earthworm, or even a little leech. Where's the fain smilie when i need one! But IMO looking at tiny specs in one's stool is not something to worry with: they are just too small to see structures (which is how one would tell a worm, from a larva, from a mucus bit, from a sand spec, from a berry seed, from a fiber string)


Also, from reading, it seems that gastroenterologists are just the docs to go to for a suspected IP infection :doh
I hear ppl had luck with infectious dz docs though :shrug3

OK, now I'd love to hear about your experiences, and if you had muscle testing, and/or homepathic tests, or other stuff, do tell.

---------- Post added at 04:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:39 PM ----------

oh, forgot articles, so make it below, not above ;)

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/i...tes-000097.htm

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...g=content;col1

http://sachinkale.blogspot.com/2006/...alin-prep.html

--is a video of IP in stool under scope

Re: Testing for parasites: FAQ
 

interesting....would be cool to hear about results...no?