EXERCISE NO. 4 ROUTINE STOOL EXAMINATION Flashcards
The presence of intestinal parasites is primarily identified through the direct examination of stool. Morphological diagnosis of parasites consists of two steps:
(1) detection of the parasite or its parts in clinical samples
(2) its identification
depends on collection of the appropriate specimens, and their recovery and examination by suitable techniques.
Detection
requires adequate skill and expertise in recognizing the parasite in its various stages and its differentiation from morphologically similar artifacts.
Identification
Once a stool specimen has been received in the laboratory, the (?) of laboratory testing, also referred to processing, begins.
analytic phase
In this phase, processing and examination of stool specimen is conveniently divided into the following parts:
- Macroscopic or physical examination
- Chemical examination
- Microscopic examination
Stool specimens are submitted to the laboratory either in the (?) or as (?) .
fresh state
preserved samples
If the stool specimen is fresh and unpreserved, as soon as it is received in the laboratory, (?) must be checked.
the color and the consistency
The first indication of gastrointestinal disturbances can be often provided by the changes in the (?) and (?) of the normal stool.
However, this step is skipped if stool specimen is already in (?).
brown color
formed consistency
fixative
Laboratories that receive the stool specimen in (?) must rely on information that is submitted with the specimen as to the color and consistency of the specimen.
preservative vials
The normal light to dark brown color of stool is due to stercobilin which is formed from intestinal oxidation of (?).
stercobilinogen
The (?) is important because It is worth noting that it may be pathologic or physiologic changes.
color of a stool
Color variations and associated conditions include the following:
bright red
black/tarry
white, gray, clay / putty (acholic)
green, or blue
upper GIT bleeding, beets, tomatoes, food coloring
•bright red
upper GIT bleeding, iron therapy, antidiarrheal compounds (charcoal, bismuth)
•black/tarry
•white, gray, clay / putty (acholic)
bile duct obstruction
barium sulfate used in x-ray exams
excess fats (steatorrhea)
milk
green vegetables oral antibiotics - owing to oxidation of bilirubin to beliverdin,
•green, or blue
Different types of stool specimen according to consistency are:
•formed
•semi-formed
•soft
•liquid ( or watery)
The (?) in a stool specimen may serve as an indication of the types of potential parasites present.
consistency or degree of moisture
are generally observed in soft or liquid specimen.
Protozoan trophozoites
This is the rationale for the time limit recommendation for examination (?) of watery stool.
within 30 minutes of collection
are often found in formed or semi-formed specimens.
Cysts
may be found in any type of stool specimen
Helminth eggs and larvae
the chances of finding helminth eggs and larvae in liquid stool are reduced by the
dilution factor
(?) in the specimen may have parasitic indications.
Macroscopic abnormalities
Examine the surface (top and bottom) of the stool specimen and broken up the with applicator sticks to check for parasites (e.g., tapeworm proglottids or, less commonly, adult pinworms).
• Adult worms.
Samples containing adult worms may be carefully washed through a
wire screen
This process allows for the retrieval and examination of the parasites for identification purposes.
Wire screen
• Blood and/or mucus in loose or liquid stool may suggest the presence of (?) in the large intestine.
amoebic ulcerations
Some of this material should be preferentially examined microscopically for (?). Although if present, neither one necessarily indicates a parasitic infection.
trophozoites
is the frequently performed chemical test on stool specimens.
Fecal occult blood testing (FOBT)
It was originally used primarily to test suspected cases of gastrointestinal diseases, which may or may not be related to parasitic infection.
Fecal occult blood testing (FOBT)
it has currently become widely used as screening procedure for the detection of colorectal cancer
Fecal occult blood testing (FOBT)
though it is not intended to replace other diagnostic procedures such as proctosigmoidoscopy, barium enema or x-ray studies)
Fecal occult blood testing (FOBT)
may produce color changes in the stool, from bright to dark red to black depending on the area of the intestinal tract from which the bleeding is occurring.
bleeding in the GIT
no visible signs of bleeding may be present in a (?) in the stool
small amount of blood
Bleeding in excess (?) of stool is considered pathologically significant
2.5 ml / 150 g