Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 1984 Oct;93(2):317-23.
doi: 10.1017/s0022172400064858.

The development and performance of a simple, sensitive method for the detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in faeces

D Baxby, N Blundell, C A Hart

The development and performance of a simple, sensitive method for the detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in faeces

D Baxby et al. J Hyg (Lond). 1984 Oct.

Abstract

Features are described of a new staining method for the detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in faeces. Smears, fixed in acid-methanol, are stained with heated safranin and counterstained with methylene blue. Oocysts stain a vivid orange-pink and are easily recognized. The method is rapid and simple with little source of error. The method is more sensitive than currently recommended Ziehl-Neelson methods; of 26 cases of cryptosporidiosis diagnosed by the new method only 19 were detected by acid-fast and only 11 by acid-alcohol-fast methods. Oocysts can be stained by safranin-methylene blue after concentration by various methods, in paraffin-embedded material, and after storage for months at various temperatures.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. N Engl J Med. 1980 Oct 2;303(14):818 - PubMed
    1. Vet Rec. 1981 Feb 21;108(8):173 - PubMed
    1. Acta Vet Scand. 1981;22(3-4):594-6 - PubMed
    1. J R Soc Med. 1983 Jan;76(1):62-70 - PubMed
    1. J Infect Dis. 1983 May;147(5):824-8 - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources