Publications by authors named "Monika M Manser"
Aim: To determine whether variation in the preservative, pore size of the sieve, solvent, centrifugal force and centrifugation time used in the Ridley-Allen Concentration method for examining faecal specimens for parasite stages had any effect on their recovery in faecal specimens.
Methods: A questionnaire was sent to all participants in the UK NEQAS Faecal Parasitology Scheme. The recovery of parasite stages was compared using formalin diluted in water or formalin diluted in saline as the fixative, 3 different pore sizes of sieve, ether or ethyl acetate as a solvent, 7 different centrifugal forces and 6 different centrifugation times according to the methods described by participants completing the questionnaire.
Aim: To compare the recovery of parasites in faecal samples using the Midi Parasep with ethyl acetate and Midi Parasep Solvent Free (SF) faecal parasite concentrators.
Methods: 23 preserved and 11 fresh faecal samples were microscopically examined for the presence of parasites using the Midi Parasep concentrator with ethyl acetate centrifuged for 1 and 3 min and the Midi Parasep SF concentrator.
Results: The Midi Parasep SF faecal parasite system recovered significantly fewer ova and cysts and resulted in a notably larger deposit than the Midi Parasep concentrator with ethyl acetate.
Aim: To examine performance in the UK National External Quality Assessment Scheme (UKNEQAS) for toxoplasma serology for evidence of discrepant results as compared with the predistribution and postdistribution results supplied by the toxoplasma reference laboratories.
Methods: Analysis of performance in the toxoplasma IgG and IgM schemes was made for the period 1994-2008 to look for trends in performance.
Results: For the IgG scheme, a mean of 98% of participants obtained the correct result for detection of toxoplasma-specific antibody.