Fecal specimens for parasitic examination should be collected before initiation of antidiarrheal therapy or antiparasitic therapy. The highest yield on hospitalized patients occurs when diarrhea is present on admission or within 72 hours of admission. The onset of diarrhea more than 72 hours after admission is usually caused by Clostridium difficile toxin rather than parasites or the usual stool pathogens. The following recommendations are made for efficient and cost-effective diagnosis of diarrheal disease in patients admitted with gastroenteritis.

Clean container

• Collect sample in a clean container
• Place stool into pink vial up to, but not higher than the red fill line 

Parasite (O&P) transport (formalin vial only); Para Pak - Pink

Ambient (strict) - 72 hours

• Inappropriate specimen transport device
• Unlabeled specimen
• Name discrepancy between specimen and request label
• Specimen received after prolonged delay (usually >72 hours)
• Leaking specimen
• Specimen received in denture cup, "Cool Whip" container, margarine container, or similar container

Modified acid-fast (Kinyoun) stain

None seen