Reference Interval:
Negative
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| Interpretive Data: |
Methodology for identification of Ova and Parasites includes wet mount and trichrome stain.
CDC reports that Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium sp., and Entamoeba histolytica are the most common causes of gastrointestinal parasitic disease in the United States. For patients with suspected gastrointestinal infection from these parasites, stool antigen testing is the optimal test method for diagnosis. A complete microscopic examination for ova and parasites should be limited to patients with immunocompromised condition, pertinent travel history, exposure history, or high pre-test probability for parasitic infection. In select clinical contexts, species-specific serology may be the preferred test.
The ova and parasite exam does not include a test to specifically detect Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Isospora and Microsporidium. For Cryptosporidium, please refer to the Cryptosporidium Antigen by EIA (0060045). For Cyclospora and Isospora, refer to Parasitology Stain by Modified Acid-Fast (0060046). For Microsporidium, refer to Microsporidia Stain (0060050).
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| Note: |
For Ova and Parasite exams from non-stool sources, refer to Ova & Parasite Exam, Body Fluid (0060067). For Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora and Isospora stains refer to Parasitology Stain by Modified Acid-Fast (0060046).
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| CPT Code(s): |
87177 Ova & parasite; 87209 Trichrome stain
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