<Brief Communication> Comparison of two concentration techniques in the detection of intestinal parasites

Abstract

Abstract: The diagnostic performance of two concentration methods, Tween-80 and Formol-Saline, were evaluated using a total of 400 stool samples from patients referred to the Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute. Both tests showed similar rates of detection; Formol-Saline (50.3%) and Tween-80 (51%), and no significant difference was observed. The sensitivity and specificity of the Tween-80 method relative to the Formol-Saline technique were 97.0% and 95.5%, respectively. However, from the point of view of the relative availability of reagents and simplicity, the Formol-Saline concentration method is recommended for the diagnosis of intestinal parasites in basic service-giving health institutions and peripheral laboratories. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1998;12(2):161-163]