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Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Microscopic Fecal Examinations
by Byron Blagburn MS, PhDA “fecal” may seem like one of the more humble tasks performed in a veterinary hospital. That does not diminish the importance of this examination, which can provide valuable information on the health status of veterinary patients. Parasite diagnosis and monitoring are vital to pet health and the health of pet owners, given the zoonotic potential of many parasites...
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Microscopic Fecal Exam Procedures
by Byron Blagburn MS, PhDFecal examination procedures likely to be accepted and implemented in most veterinary practices include centrifugal flotation, sedimentation, and direct examination (direct smear). Only flotation and sedimentation are concentration procedures. Direct smears have poor sensitivity because of the small amount of feces examined but may be useful for demonstrating motile organisms. CAPC recommends that feces be routinely screened by a centrifugal flotation method, which is consistently more sensitive than simple flotation. Accuracy of centrifugal flotation techniques depends on procedural details and specimen attributes...
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Microscopic Fecal Exam Procedures
by Byron Blagburn MS, PhDFecal examination procedures likely to be accepted and implemented in most veterinary practices include centrifugal flotation, sedimentation, and direct examination (direct smear). Only flotation and sedimentation are concentration procedures. Direct smears have poor sensitivity because of the small amount of feces examined but may be useful for demonstrating motile organisms. CAPC recommends that feces be routinely screened by a centrifugal flotation method, which is consistently more sensitive than simple flotation. Accuracy of centrifugal flotation techniques depends on procedural details and specimen attributes...
Read More
Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Microscopic Fecal Examinations
by Byron Blagburn MS, PhDA “fecal” may seem like one of the more humble tasks performed in a veterinary hospital. That does not diminish the importance of this examination, which can provide valuable information on the health status of veterinary patients. Parasite diagnosis and monitoring are vital to pet health and the health of pet owners, given the zoonotic potential of many parasites...
Read More