This is a method to isolate parasitic stages from feces respectively stools of animals or humans by help of a so-called sodium acetate-acetic acid-formalin solution.
- 1.
Stool sample (1 g) is placed into a tube containing 10 ml of S.A.F.
- 2.
Stool and S.A.F. are intensively mixed by a glass stick.
- 3.
Closed tube is shaken vigorously.
- 4.
Stool is filtered using a funnel with gauze.
- 5.
The tubes are now centrifuged for 1 minute at 2,000 rpm.
- 6.
Supernatant is removed by help of a pipette or cautiously decanted.
- 7.
7 ml saline is added and contents are mixed with a glass stick.
- 8.
3 ml ether has to be added.
- 9.
Tubes are closed with rubber stoppers, well shaken, while fixing firmly the stopper (or closing the vessel by a cover).
- 10.
The cover (or rubber stopper) is removed and the product is centrifuged for 5 min at 2,000 rpm.
- 11.
After centrifugation all three upper layers were decanted and just the sediment is retained and investigated by help of a light microscope (use a cover slip...
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Further Readings
Blagg W et al (1955) New concentration technique for demonstration of protozoan and helminth eggs in faeces. Am J Trop Meg Hyg 4:23–28
Marti H, Escher E (1980) SAF – an alternative fixation solution for parasitological stool specimens. Schweiz Med Wochenschr 120:1473–1476
Mehlhorn H et al (1992) Diagnose und Therapie der Parasiten von Haus-, Nutz- und Heimtieren, 2nd edn. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart/New York
Price LD (1981) Comparison of three collection-preservation methods for detection of intestinal parasites. J Clin Microbiol 14:656–660
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Mehlhorn, H. (2016). SAFC Concentration. In: Mehlhorn, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Parasitology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-43978-4_4310
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