Table 2.

Sample types other than faeces that can be tested and the parasites that can be detected

Specimen	Parasite
Adhesive tape slides	Enterobius vermicularis
Duodenal aspirates	Giardia lamblia trophozoites, Strongyloides larvae
Jejunal aspirates/biopsies	Microsporidial spores, Strongyloides stercoralis larvae, Giardia lamblia trophozoites
Bile	Opisthorchis spp, Fasciola hepatica
Liver aspirates	Entamoeba histolytica
Cyst aspirates*	Echinococcus spp
Sputum	Strongyloides stercoralis/Paragonimus spp, Cryptosporidium spp
Cerebrospinal fluid	Acanthamoeba spp/Naegleria fowleri
Corneal scrapes	Acanthamoeba spp
Contact lens fluid	Acanthamoeba spp
Lymph node biopsies	Toxoplasma
Cutaneous ulcers	Leishmania spp
Bone marrow	Leishmania
Splenic aspirates	Leishmania
Liver biopsies	Leishmania
Muscle biopsy	Trichinella spiralis
Urine	Schistosoma haematobium
High vaginal swabs	Trichomonas vaginalis
Blood films	Plasmodium, microfilariae, babesia, trypanosoma

*The aspiration of cysts is hazardous and specialist advice should be sought regarding the management of hydatid cysts.