Introduction
A diagnostic test is any kind of medical
test performed to aid in the diagnosis or detection of disease.
It is use to diagnose diseases, whether the disease is severe or can be treated and also to confirm that a
person is free from disease.Diagnosis of the patient by health care provider is based on the sign and symptoms, patient medical condition and patient travel history. If the diagnosis is difficult, the health care provider will provide more than one test to detection of the disease.
Below is a list of diagnostic test that have been done in detection of Intestinal Ameba.
Below is a list of diagnostic test that have been done in detection of Intestinal Ameba.
1. Fecal (Stool) Examination
Evidence of intestinal parasitism, apart from the general clinical signs, is obtained from faecal examination. This examination also known as ova and parasite test (O&P). This test is used to find parasites that cause diarrhea, loose or watery stools, cramping, flatulence (gas) and other abdominal illness.
The test is started with the collection of the stool specimen. This specimen is collected into the special container with preservative fluid (usually formalin). Specimens that are not collected in a preservative fluid should be refrigerated, until delivered to the lab or the health care provider’s office.
Next, the health care provider will request for the special test such as direct wet mounts, concentration procedures and permanent stains.
1) Direct wet mounts.
- To detect protozoan trophozoites and their motility characteristic.
- Use as screening procedure for parasites prior to performing the concentration technique.
- Prepared by mixing a small amount of stool (about 2mg) in a drop of saline on a clean dry microscope slide with applicator stick to form a homogenous suspension.
- Also can add a drop of iodine stain to enhance appearance of the nucleus a cytoplasmic structures.
- To detect the motility, iodine stain is not suitable because iodine will kill the parasite.
2) Concentration procedure
- This method is used to remove the debris that will overshadow the presence of parasite elements.
- This procedure also allows the detection of even small number of parasite in the number.
- Have two types of procedure are commonly used that is sedimentation and floatation.
- Sedimentation is performed by suspending fluid and through centrifugation heavier protozoa are separated from the lighter fecal debris. The most widely method used is formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation technique.
- Floatation procedures enhance the separation of parasitic elements by combining the fecal material with solution of greater specific gravity. The lighter protozoa float to the top and recovers on the surface of coverslip.
- Have two type of floatation procedures that is zinc sulphate floatation and sugar floatation.
3) Permanent stains.
- To determine the exact identification of intestinal protozoa on the basis observations made by direct wet mount or concentration techniques.
- There are 3 permanent stain that is widely used that is iron hematoxylin stain, trichrome stain and acid fast stain.
- Usually for intestinal ameba the common stain used is iron hematoxylin stain and trichrome stain.
The test is started with the collection of the stool specimen. This specimen is collected into the special container with preservative fluid (usually formalin). Specimens that are not collected in a preservative fluid should be refrigerated, until delivered to the lab or the health care provider’s office.
Next, the health care provider will request for the special test such as direct wet mounts, concentration procedures and permanent stains.
1) Direct wet mounts.
- To detect protozoan trophozoites and their motility characteristic.
- Use as screening procedure for parasites prior to performing the concentration technique.
- Prepared by mixing a small amount of stool (about 2mg) in a drop of saline on a clean dry microscope slide with applicator stick to form a homogenous suspension.
- Also can add a drop of iodine stain to enhance appearance of the nucleus a cytoplasmic structures.
- To detect the motility, iodine stain is not suitable because iodine will kill the parasite.
2) Concentration procedure
- This method is used to remove the debris that will overshadow the presence of parasite elements.
- This procedure also allows the detection of even small number of parasite in the number.
- Have two types of procedure are commonly used that is sedimentation and floatation.
- Sedimentation is performed by suspending fluid and through centrifugation heavier protozoa are separated from the lighter fecal debris. The most widely method used is formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation technique.
- Floatation procedures enhance the separation of parasitic elements by combining the fecal material with solution of greater specific gravity. The lighter protozoa float to the top and recovers on the surface of coverslip.
- Have two type of floatation procedures that is zinc sulphate floatation and sugar floatation.
3) Permanent stains.
- To determine the exact identification of intestinal protozoa on the basis observations made by direct wet mount or concentration techniques.
- There are 3 permanent stain that is widely used that is iron hematoxylin stain, trichrome stain and acid fast stain.
- Usually for intestinal ameba the common stain used is iron hematoxylin stain and trichrome stain.
2. Serology Test.
This test is used to look for antibodies or for parasite antigens produced when the body is infected with a parasite and the immune system is trying to fight off the invader.
Test that have provided such as indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescent (IFA). These tests usually have been used to detect intestinal infection with Entamoeba histolytica.
Test that have provided such as indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescent (IFA). These tests usually have been used to detect intestinal infection with Entamoeba histolytica.
3. Other Test
Other test that have been used such as sigmoidoscopic aspirates. This aspirates is obtained from liver abscesses. This test is used to detect infection with Entamoeba histolytica.
Besides that, other test also include X-ray, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan, Computerized Axial Tomography scan (CAT). These tests are used to look for some parasitic diseases that may cause lesions in the organs.
Besides that, other test also include X-ray, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan, Computerized Axial Tomography scan (CAT). These tests are used to look for some parasitic diseases that may cause lesions in the organs.