OVA AND PARASITE SCREEN

Test Code

LAB258

Includes

Direct examination (if indicated), concentrated examination, and trichrome stain for cysts, trophozoites, eggs, larvae, and adult worms in stool or duodenal contents.
Caution: Does not include modified acid-fast stains for Cyclospora or Isospora. See GI Panel-LAB1231416 which includes Cyclospora pathogen detection.

Preferred Specimen

ParaPak transport media (available from Microbiology lab). Outpatients stool submissions must be sent to ParaPak transport media.

Minimum Volume

2 mL stool

Instructions

If patient has received barium, wait ten days before submitting a stool specimen. If enemas are required, only fleets or saline enemas are recommended. For best results, collect one specimen every two days for a total of three specimens. See Clinical Significance for a list of acceptable and unacceptable purgatives.

Transport Temperature

Refrigerated

Specimen Stability

Fresh specimen: Refrigerate
Specimen in ParaPak: Ambient
Transport to the laboratory within 14 days.

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Stools containing barium,contamination of outer surface of container, and specimen contaminated with urine or toilet water will be rejected. No more than one specimen per day will be tested. Twenty-four hour specimens, specimens sent in diapers, on toilet paper, or on a tissue will be rejected. Routine testing will not be performed on patients hospitalized for greater than 3 days. Outpatient specimen submissions will be rejected if not received in transportmedia.

Methodology
Stain/Wet Mount

Setup Schedule

Monday-Friday

Clinical Significance

Agent	Acceptable	Unacceptable	Waiting Period
Fleets	X
Barium		X	5-10 days
Saline	X
Metamucil		X	48 hours
Ducolax		X	48 hours
Mylanta		X	48 hours
Milk of Magnesia		X	48 hours
Alterna-Gel		X	48 hours
Gelusil		X	48 hours
Riopan	X
Duclcolax	X
Donnagel		X	48 hours
Lomotil	X
Imodium	X
Iridum	X
Kaopectate		X	48 hours
Mineral Oil		X	5-10 days
Stool Softeners	X

Performing Laboratory
West Virginia University Hospital, Inc.

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.