KATO KATZ

TECHNIQUE
PRESENTED BY: GROUP 2
CASURRA | OCASLA | ROSAL | SALDIA
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Kato-Katz technique is a diagnostic technique

used to detect parasitic infections, particularly soil-
transmitted helminths such as roundworm,
whipworm, and hookworm. It involves collecting a
stool sample and examining it for the presence
of helminth eggs.
 1

Image: Hookworm eggs examined microscopically on wet mount using the Kato-Katz technique (eggs
of Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus cannot be distinguished morphologically. The
embryo in (B) has begun cellular division and is at an early (gastrula) developmental stage (Photo
courtesy of Vishnu Vardhan Serla / Maheep Sangha).

https://globetechcdn.com/labmedica/images/stories/articles/article_images/2017-10-17/RLJ-365.jpg
PRINCIPLE:

The technique is based on the principle of microscopic

examination of a fecal smear, which is prepared by
mixing a small amount of fecal material with a fixative
and pressing it through a special template onto a slide.
 PRINCIPLES OF KATO-KATZ

SAMPLE PREPARATION PARASITE QUANTIFICATION

COLLECTION OF FECAL
SMEAR IDENTIFICATION OF PARASITES

A fresh fecal A small amount of fecal The technique The number of

material is taken from the parasite eggs seen
sample is sample and mixed with a
relies on the
in the fecal smear
collected from fixative solution. The mixture visualization of
is then pressed through a
is used to estimate
the patient using the parasite eggs
template onto a slide, which is the parasite
a clean, dry then examined under a in the fecal burden in the
container. microscope. smear. patient's intestine.
MATERIALS:
Stool collection container with stool
sample
Microscope
Cellophane sheets
Templates (cardboard)
Applicator sticks
Spatula
GENERAL FLOW:

The patient provides a stool sample, and the

sample is prepared on a slide using the Kato-Katz
technique. The slide is then examined under a
microscope to identify the presence of helminth
eggs.
https://www.mdpi.com/tropicalmed/tropicalmed-05-00093/article_deploy/html/images/tropicalmed-05-00093-g003.png
Video source: https://youtu.be/QMDBbh5WgQw?t=43
https://youtu.be/QMDBbh5WgQw?t=292
 KATO KATZ TECHNIQUE

simple and inexpensive technique that

requires minimal equipment and
supplies.
widely available and is used in many ADVANTAGES
laboratories worldwide.
able to detect a variety of intestinal
parasites.
used to estimate the intensity of
infection by counting the number of
parasite eggs present in a sample.
 2 REQUIRES TRAINED
PERSONNEL

DIS- UNABLE TO DETECT

ADVANTAGES 3 PARASITES THAT DO
NOT PRODUCE EGGS

1 4 PARASITES WITH LOW

EGG OUTPUT OR THOSE
HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON THAT DO NOT SHED
THE AMOUNT OF STOOL EGGS CONSISTENTLY,
EXAMINED MAY BE MISSED BY THE
KATO-KATZ TECHNIQUE
Thank you!