DIRECT FECAL SMEAR

(SALINE AND IODINE By: Tom Anthony A.

WET MOUNT Tonguia, RMT

PREPARATIONS)
DIRECT FECAL SMEAR
•Is commonly used as a quick screening test to check the presence
of any intestinal parasite in humans and even in animals.
•It may be examined as a wet mount, or can be dried and stained.
•Wet mounts are useful for detecting motile organisms.
MATERIALS/REAGENTS
Wooden applicator stick
Microscope slides
Stool specimen
Pens for labeling
NSS
Lugol’s Iodine (1%)
Dropper
MACROSCOPIC
EXAMINATION
Fecal specimens should be grossly examined for its consistency
(Formed, Soft, Loose, Mucoid, or Watery) and for presence of
mucus, blood, larval, or adult worms, and proglottids.
MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION
Specimens are examined microscopically by direct wet mounts of
fresh or preserved material, wet mounts of concentrates or
permanent stains.
PROCEDURE
1. Labeling of specimen slide
2. Place a drop of NSS in the center of the left half of the slide and
place a drop of Lugol’s Iodine in the center of the right half of the
slide.
3. With an applicator stick, pic up a small portion of feces and add
it to the drop of saline and add also a similar portion to the drop
of iodine and mix the feces with the solutions to form a
suspension,
4. Cover each drop with a cover slip.
5. Examine the slide in a systematic matter (snake trail method).
Note: When organisms or suspicious objects are seen, switch to
higher magnification to see the more detailed morphology of the