Click to view full page image of the ova parasite stool test process
Parasite stool tests can reliably and accurately find intestinal parasite infections by looking for parasites, or parasite eggs (called ova).
Out of all the parasite tests available, the parasite poop test is the most useful, accurate, and convenient.
Almost all parasite infections by patients in the 1st world are detectable in stool. So this test should be first in the parasite infection diagnosis tool kit.
Parasites range in size from 6 feet long, down to a few inches, down to those only visible by a microscope.
So even though most people think of parasites as just “worms” – there are actually many species of microscopic parasites that are only detectable through a microscope…and in my opinion, it’s the microscopic ones that cause the most severe health problems.
Here’s the full list of parasites that could be detected by a stool test:
BUT – keep in mind as you shop for your home parasite ova stool test kit…most tests will only look for the 3-5 most common parasites in your region. Always ask for the list of parasites your test can actually find.
Parasites today travel outside their natural borders. In 2018 people are eating sushi caught by Chinese fishermen – on a plate with veggies grown in Mexico – prepared by immigrants who may have grown up in unsanitary, parasite-infested living conditions. My father is an immigrant so I know how unsanitary it can be in 3rd world countries.
With global trade and travel, we really need to test for global parasites…not just the parasites native to our home country. Otherwise, we can miss parasites that are causing our health problems.
The ova stool test can’t reliably find the pinworm parasite. It also can’t detect blood, ocular, skin, or brain parasite infections.
While the pinworm is common, blood parasites are very rare in the first world.
Ova stool tests for parasites can accurately diagnose the exact parasite that has infected your intestines.
Once a parasite infection is accurately diagnosed, then the precise medication that will defeat that parasite can be taken.
Different parasites require different medications, cleanses, or supplement treatments. So accurate diagnosis is important for successful eradication of a parasite infection.
Click to view full page image of the ova parasite stool test process
There are 4 steps to the ova stool parasite test:
The first step is to collect a sample. This will typically involve defecating somewhere where the stool (poop) can then be scooped into a sample container – but without contamination.
Since parasites and their ova (eggs) aren’t present in your stool 100% of the time, samples from 4-8 different days should be collected. This will reduce the chance of a test looking parasite-free when it really is parasite-infested.
Typically the sample is also put into preservation fluid for easy shipping and killing of the parasite and fecal contents.
At this point, the fecal matter needs to be separated from the parasites and parasite eggs (ova). This is done using centrifuges…often with multiple cycles to increase the concentration of all the parasites and ova.
After the sample is extracted from the centrifuges, a high-contrast dye is applied to make it easier to see the parasites and their eggs.
A (hopefully) well-trained and experienced human will now look at the dyed and prepared microscope slide.
Depending on the quality of the dye, and more importantly, how experienced your technician is, they will look for large parasites, microscopic parasites, and parasite eggs.
The technician could be anyone from a 22-year-old biology student who couldn’t find another job…all the way up to someone with a Ph.D. in parasitology, who spent decades on multiple continents passionately discovering, studying and fighting human parasite infestation.
Some labs hire only the most experienced parasitologists [like ours] – while others try and find the cheapest lab techs. And if you want fewer false negatives and false positives, I think you want the labs with experienced lab techs.
Our gut parasite test follows all of the above principles to the letter. All samples are analyzed by 1 of our 2 parasitologists on staff. In fact, recently clients have shipped in samples with:
And more parasites than we’re even listing here!
You should click here to learn more about our 31 gut parasites test.
Happy parasite hunting,
Evan Jerkunica
Evan Jerkunica, Parasites.org's founder is happy to help. To get your questions answered, you can:
Email Support@parasites.org