main-img_labref.jpg

Microbiology


Full details for "Faecal Ova, Cysts & Parasites".  

Name

 Faecal Ova, Cysts & Parasites

Alternative name/Profile

 Faecal examination /Faeces/ OCP / Ancylostoma duodenale / Ascaris lumbricoides / Balantidium coli / Blastocystis hominis / Capillaria philippinensis / Chilomastix mesnili / Cryptosporidium parvum / Cyclospora cayetanensis / Dientamoeba fragilis / Diphyllobothrium latum / Echinostoma species / Endolimax nana / Entamoeba histolytica / Other Entamoeba species / Enteromonas hominis / Fasciola hepatica / Fasciolopsis buski / Giardia lamblia / Heterophyes heterophyes / Hymenolepis nana / Iodamoeba butschlii / Isospora belli / Metagonimus yokogawai / Nanophyetes salmincola / Necator americanus / Opisthorchis sinensis / Paragonimus westermani / Retortomonas intestinalis / Sarcocystis species / Schistosoma species / Strongyloides stercoralis / Taenia saginata / Taenia solium / Trichuris trichiura

Department

 Microbiology

Investigation

Specimen type

 Faeces

Sample type

Sample container & volume

 Sterile Universal Container. Please send 3 specimens (but no more than 3) on different days as some parasites are excreted intermittently.

Frequency of analysis

 Weekly* Daily for Cryptosporidium species and Giardia lamblia (Monday to Friday) *specimens are referred to Public Health Laboratory Cherry Orchard for ova and parasite testing

Turnaround time

 7 days

Availability

 Monday - Friday

Notes

Microscopy testing for Ova, Cysts & Parasites (OCP) are performed in Cherry Orchard Public Health Laboratory

Specimen requests for OCP are screened. Only samples satisfying the following criteria are transported to an External Laboratory for processing:

  • Significant details indicate there may be the presence of ova/parasites (e.g. ? worm seen in stool).
  • Patient has chronic diarrhoea or persistent diarrhoea.
  • Recent history of travel to endemic area.
  • The requesting consultant is a gastroenterologist.
  • The requesting consultant is from the GUIDE or infectious disease specialty.
  • Requesting consultant is haematology/oncology.
  • Only semi-solid or liquid specimens are to be processed unless details indicate the presence of a worm.

 

Detection of Cryptosporidium species and Giardia lamblia is now performed routinely on all faecal specimens sent for faecal pathogen investigation by molecular assay using the EntericBio Gastro Panel 2 

Send sample to the laboratory without delay.  Sample should be refrigerated if not transported immediately

Related links

Reference range

Last updated

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:59:49 IST


Section menu