Ecto Parasite Exam

Lice, Louse

1. Submit specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container.

2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number (if available), date and time of collection, and type of specimen.

3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Scabies

1. Call Microbiology Laboratory at 724-357-7160 prior to specimen collection.

2. Clean skin with 70% alcohol.

3. Scrap advancing edge of lesion with a sterile glass slide into a screw-capped, sterile container.

4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number (if available), date and time of collection, and type of specimen.

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Tick Identification

1. Submit specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container.

2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number (if available), date and time of collection, and type of specimen.

3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Tick identification will be forwarded to Mayo Medical Laboratories for #50018 “Parasite Identification.”

Worm Identification

1. Submit entire specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container. Add sterile saline to cover specimen and prevent dehydration.

2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number (if available), date and time of collection, and type of specimen.

3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.