Specimen Collection
Faeces specimen
: A minimum of 1 g is required
Other specimens:
urine and respiratory specimens may also be examined for microsporidia.
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Please indicate relevant clinical details (eg. HIV status, immune status etc)
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Immunocompetent patients will not be tested without prior consultation with the Clinical Microbiologist or registrar.
Corneal Scrapings
: Please send two additional microscope slides with suspected infected tissue smeared for microsporidia requests.
Turnaround Time: Within 3 days
Test performed Monday to Friday.
Diagnostic Use and Interpretation
Microsporidiosis is an opportunistic disease occurring predominantly in severely immunodeficient HIV infected persons. Microsporidia are not detected on routine parasite examination. A modified trichrome stain is performed on specimens requesting microsporidia.
Keratoconjunctavitis due to microsporidia species has also been reported in immunocompetent persons.
Contact Information
For further information, contact the Microbiology Department via Lablink or the Clinical Microbiologist:
Lablink contact details
Dr Sally Roberts
, Microbiologist:
ext 22705
Cellphone
021 674 140
Dr Sharmini Muttaiyah
, Microbiologist:
ext 22700
Cellphone
021 615 892
Dr Mary de Almeida
, Microbiologist:
ext 22700
Cellphone
021 170 9117
Dr Matthew Blakiston
, Microbiologist: contact via Lablink
Specimen Transport Instructions for Referring Laboratories
Faecal specimens: Send preserved in Total-Fix (1 part stool / 2 parts preservative) at ambient room temperature.
Requests on other types of specimens should be discussed with the Clinical Microbiologist prior to sending.