ABSTRACT
There are many special methods that may be applied to the preserved fecal specimen. In addition to the usual staining methods for intestinal protozoa, some special methods may be necessary, especially acid-fast staining for Cryptosporidia or other coccidia. All temporary wet mounts should remain flat at least until they are thoroughly dry and should be stored in that position if possible. There are disadvantages to temporary wet mounts: parasites and eggs that are stained may lose their color, eggs and cysts may collapse, or parasites and/or eggs in some way may lose their integrity. In patients free of symptoms, a procedure similar to that for giardiasis should be followed about 2 months after treatment; if no parasites are found, an additional series of at least 6 specimens taken 3 to 4 days apart should be examined. Posttreatment examinations are often requested by the physician or are performed to check the effectiveness of some therapeutic regimens.
