PRELIMS Flashcards
(103 cards)
What is the most common specimen in the laboratory for stool examination?
Stool
What type of container is recommended for stool specimen collection?
Clean, wide-mouth plastic containers with tight-fitting lids
What factors should be considered during stool specimen collection?
- Intake of certain medicines (antacids, anti-diarrheals, barium, bismuth, laxatives)
- Amount of stool collected
- Presence of contaminants
- Age of stool sample
What are the three main types of stool examination?
- Physical
- Microscopic
- Chemical
What does the physical examination of stool involve?
Color and consistency
Fresh, unpreserved stool specimens are preferred.
How is stool consistency categorized?
- Formed
- Soft
- Loose
- Watery
What does black stool indicate?
- Bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract
- iron / bismuth subsalicytes
What does red stool indicate?
- Bleeding from the lower gastrointestinal tract
- red dye, food, drink
- hemorrhoids
- This is also referred to as hematochezia.
What color of stool suggests a lack of bile?
White or clay-colored stool.
What does yellowish stool indicate?
- Inability to digest fats or oils properly
- small intestinal infx
What is the purpose of chemical examination in stool analysis?
Detection of occult or small bleeding.
What is the principle behind guaiac-based occult blood testing (gFOBT)?
Detect pseudoperoxidase activity of hemoglobin.
What is the main principle of the fecal immunochemical test (FIT)?
Antigen-antibody reaction specific to hemoglobin in blood from the lower gastrointestinal tract.
What are the common techniques used in microscopic examination of stool?
- Direct Wet Film
- Concentration Techniques (sedimentation and flotation)
What does the direct wet film technique detect?
Trophic form of amoeba and flagellates.
What is the goal of concentration techniques in stool examination?
Separate protozoan cysts and helminth eggs from the bulk of fecal matter.
What reagents are used in the acid ether concentration technique?
- 40% Hydrochloric acid
- Ether
What is the main reagent in the formalin ether/ethyl acetate technique (FECT)?
Formalin and ether.
What is the specific gravity range for zinc sulfate flotation technique?
1.18 - 1.20.
What is the purpose of the Baermann apparatus?
To yield a good concentration of living larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis.
What is the Kato-Katz method used for?
Assessing the intensity of infection for soil-transmitted helminths.
What type of specimen is best for recovering Trichomonas vaginalis?
Urine.
What is the best specimen for diagnosing Naegleria fowleri?
Cerebrospinal fluid.
What staining technique is used for coccidians like Cryptosporidium?
Modified Acid-fast staining (Kinyoun method).