Laboratory Diagnosis of Amebiasis

Abstract

The essentials for proper diagnosis are: (1) Use of fresh stools. (2) Selection of different portions of stools. (3) Examination by a trained observer. (4) Repeated examinations if negative. (5) Use of wet-fixed, wet-treated and hematoxylin stained fecal smears. Preparations made with the aid of the sigmoidoscope at the bedside are valuable. Fecal smears fixed in Schaudinn''s solution and transferred to alcohol may be shipped to the laboratory when fresh stools can not be examined. Concentration methods are not necessary. Cultures are recommended to detect cryptic or hidden infections but not for routine purposes. Complement-fixation tests are of value in diagnosing hepatic amebiasis and latent infections but present many technical difficulties although specific. The technic for staining fecal smears with iron-hematoxylin is appended as an addendum.