What happens during an ova and parasite test?You will need to provide a sample of your stool. Your provider or your child's provider will give you specific instructions on how to collect and send in your sample. Your instructions may include the following:Put on a pair of rubber or latex gloves.Collect and store the stool in a special container given to you by your health care provider or a lab.If you have diarrhea, you can tape a large plastic bag to the toilet seat. It may be easier to collect your stool this way. You will then put the bag into the container.Make sure no urine, toilet water, or toilet paper mixes in with the sample.Seal and label the container.Remove the gloves, and wash your hands.Return the container to your health care provider as soon as possible. Parasites may be harder to find when stool is not tested quickly enough. If you are unable to get to your provider right away, you should refrigerate your sample until you are ready deliver it.If you need to collect a sample from a baby, you will need to:Put on a pair of rubber or latex gloves.Line the baby's diaper with plastic wrapPosition the wrap to help prevent urine and stool from mixing together.Place the plastic wrapped sample in a special container given to you by your child's provider.Remove the gloves, and wash your hands.Return the container to the provider as soon as possible. If you are unable to get to your provider right away, you should refrigerate your sample until you are ready deliver it.You may need to collect several stool samples from yourself or your child over a period of a few days. This is because parasites may not be detected in every sample. Multiple samples increase the chance the parasites will be found.
