Parasitology Services

The Department of Veterinary Pathology provides diagnostic parasitology service to veterinary practitioners. Our diagnostic staff includes a DVM, PhD Veterinary Parasitologist. 

What services do we provide?

The parasitology laboratory offers a wide range of parasite identification.

Tests include:

• Sugar flotation
• Giardia Antigen Testing
• Baermann
• Microfilariae
• McMaster (quantitative exam)
• Sedimentation
• Helminths (worm) identification

How do you submit a specimen?

• Place the fresh sample in a sealed container and then into a sealed plastic bag. Fecal samples must not be frozen.
• If either Giardia or Cryptosporidium is suspected please submit both unfixed feces and a similar quantity of formalin-fixed feces. Mix 1 part feces with 3-4 parts of 5% neutral buffered formalin in a wide-mouth container in a plastic bag with paper toweling.
• Helminths (worms) should be preserved in 70% ethanol
• Print the Veterinary Parasitology Submission Form from the website and fill it out, providing complete animal identification, history, sample collection date, and test requested.
• Place the completed paperwork along with the specimen inside a sturdy cardboard box and include sufficient coolant (blue ice) to keep sample chilled until it is received at the laboratory.
• Ship by the carrier of your choice so fresh specimens will be received within 24-28 hours of collection.

For General or Submission Information:

For Insect or Tick Identification

This service is for veterinarian use ONLY and can not be used to identify human parasites.  Please contact your physician if you feel you have been exposed to a parasite or contact the Entomology Department at Iowa State University for the identification of insects.