Necessary Information

1. Specimen source and isolate description are required: morphology, tests performed, location of specimen, or other pertinent information.

2. Indicate reason for request.

Specimen Required

Specimen Type: Parasitic worms, insects, or mites

Container/Tube: Sterile container (10% formalin or 70% alcohol may be added if appropriate specimen type)

Specimen Volume: Entire specimen

Collection Instructions:

1. For scabies, submit skin scrapings on glass microscope slide. Cover with a clean slide and use a rubber band to hold the 2 slides together (do not tape). Place the slides in a clean, dry container for transport. If no slides are available at time of collection, the dry skin scraping can be submitted in a sterile container and will be placed on slide at time of examination. Skin scraping must be visible with the naked eye to be of a quantity sufficient for testing.

2. Submit whole worms and worm segments in 70% alcohol or formalin. Worms must be clean of stool to be suitable for examination.

3. Submit arthropods (ticks, lice, nits, bed bugs, etc) in a clean, dry container. Do not wrap in tape, gauze, or tissue that might obscure them during examination.