A new and improved method for diagnosing pinworm infections has been developed by Bio-Connections.
Pinworm infections are often diagnosed using the ‘tape test’. This ‘test’ is done by applying clear Sellotape (sticky tape) to the perianal region, pressing the adhesive side of the tape firmly against the left and right perianal folds several times.The Sellotape is placed in a sterile universal container, avoid bending or creasing, and sent to the laboratory.
Pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis) is very contagious and capable of infecting the sample collector and the laboratory staff. This procedure requires a great deal of manual dexterity – placing sticky tape in a universal container without bending or creasing is difficult; then in the laboratory taking the piece of sticky tape out of a container and laying it on a microscope slide, aseptically, again requires dexterity.
A much more acceptable method of sample collection and transport is the PCA Pinworm Egg Collection/Transport apparatus. This product consists of a cylindrical-shaped pinworm egg collector with an adhesive tape pre-wrapped around the cylinder, sticky side out. The stem/shaft of the pinworm egg collector is attached to the screw cap via an in-cap sprocket.
The screw cap can be used to hold the egg collector and to manoeuvre it when sampling the perianal area. The sticky pinworm egg collector should be rolled-on the perianal area in order to pick up the eggs, if present. The cylindrical shape of the pinworm egg collector makes it user friendly, and the rugged screw capped housing makes transport back to the lab safe and convenient.
Back in the laboratory the adhesive tape wrapped around the cylinder is rolled-off the cylinder, adhesive side down, onto a microscope slide, ready for examination.
