Comparison of mini-flotac and Kato-Katz methods for detecting soil-transmitted helminth eggs in 10% formalin preserved stools stored >=12 months.

In Soil-Transmitted Helminth (STH) control programs, microscopic examination is applied as a standard method for detecting the presence and the number of STH eggs. The time limitations of fresh specimen processing, especially for an accurate quantitative diagnosis, cause the specimen processing to be delayed or should be performed at a referral laboratory. This deferment requires preservatives to keep the stool integrity without reducing the accuracy.