Comparison of three collection-preservation methods for detection of intestinal parasites.

A study was designed to compare the effectiveness and time efficiency of three collection-preservation methods individually and grouped to form systems. Employees and members of their families of an agricultural grower in Hillsborough County, Fla., provided all fecal specimens used in the study. The 160 individuals participating were members of 64 families and represented a cross section of all job activity levels including management. Specimens were collected in Merthiolate/iodine/Formalin, Formalin (10% neutral buffered solution), and polyvinyl alcohol fixative. Parasites were found in the specimens from 39 (24.4%) of the 160 individuals participating, which represented 29.7% of the 64 families. No single method was effective in recovering all of the parasites found. When the methods were grouped to form diagnostic systems, the Merthiolate/iodine/Formalin system appeared to be more effective for parasite recovery as well as more time efficient than the Formalin/polyvinyl alcohol fixation system.