Faecal Flotation Test (Worm Eggs & Oocysts)
A faecal flotation test mixes fresh faeces with a special liquid so that worm eggs and coccidia oocysts, the egg-like stage of some gut parasites, float up and can be seen under a microscope. It is used for dogs, cats, cows and buffaloes.
- Sample
- Fresh faeces
- Quantity
- As advised
- Report
- Confirmed when you book
- Collection
- Free in Bhopal
What this test checks
- Eggs of roundworms and hookworms in dogs and cats, and whipworms in dogs
- Some tapeworm eggs, which are not always seen even when tapeworms are present
- Eggs of stomach and gut worms in cows and buffaloes
- Coccidia oocysts, the tiny egg-like stage of single-celled gut parasites
Benefits of this test
- Can show which worms or coccidia an animal has from a simple faeces sample.
- Helps your vet choose the next step based on what is found.
- Commonly used to check puppies, kittens and calves, which are often more affected by worms.
- Testing several animals can give a picture of worms across a herd.
- Can be repeated over time to see whether eggs are still being passed.
Often discussed at these ages:PuppyKittenFoalAdult Horse
When your vet may advise it
- Diarrhoea, soft stool or mucus in the stool.
- Weight loss, poor growth or a pot belly in a puppy, kitten or calf.
- A dull coat, pale gums or a fall in milk yield when your vet suspects worms.
- Worms or worm segments seen in the stool or around the tail.
- Routine checks for a new pet or for a herd, as your vet advises.
- Checking whether eggs are still being passed after treatment, as your vet advises.
About this test
Many worms, and some single-celled gut parasites called coccidia, live in the intestines of dogs, cats, cows and buffaloes. Adult worms lay eggs, and coccidia make tiny egg-like forms called oocysts. These pass out in the faeces, which is the stool or dung. Finding them can help your vet know which parasites an animal has, even when the worms themselves are never seen.
In a faecal flotation test, a small amount of fresh faeces is mixed with a special liquid that is heavier than water. Worm eggs and oocysts float up to the top, are collected on a glass slide and examined under a microscope. The test can help detect roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, some tapeworms and coccidia in pets, and stomach and gut worms, tapeworms and coccidia in cows and buffaloes. Fluke eggs are heavy and do not float well, so they are looked for with a separate Faecal Sedimentation Test.
Worms shed eggs on and off, so one negative result does not rule worms out. Your vet may ask for samples from more than one day, or test several animals in a herd. Young animals are often more affected by worms, so puppies, kittens and calves are commonly checked. Some worms of dogs and cats, such as roundworms and hookworms, can infect people, so wear gloves when collecting faeces, wash your hands well and speak to a doctor if anyone in the family is unwell. A registered veterinarian reads the result with the animal's signs, age and history.
How to prepare
Collect a fresh sample soon after the animal passes it, in a clean, leak-proof container with a lid, avoid soil or litter, and keep it cool until it reaches the lab. The lab confirms the method, sample needs and reporting time when you book.
Reading the result
A registered veterinarian reads the result together with the animal's signs, age and history. Finding eggs or oocysts usually means parasites are present, though not always how many. A negative result does not rule worms out, because eggs are shed on and off and fluke eggs need a different test, so your vet may repeat the test or add others.
Questions about Faecal Flotation Test (Worm Eggs & Oocysts)
How do I collect a stool sample from my dog or cat for a worm test?
Can a negative faecal test rule out worms?
What can a faecal flotation test find in cows and buffaloes?
What is the difference between a faecal flotation test and a worm egg count?
Before you book this test
Why this notice: so you know, before you book, how a test is done, what its limits are and who is responsible.
- Where it is tested. Some tests are done wholly or partly by an independent partner laboratory. The lab tells you before booking if this test is sent out, and the report names the laboratory that did it.
- What a result can and cannot tell you. No test is right every time. A normal result does not rule out every disease, and an abnormal result does not prove one. A registered veterinarian should read the report with the animal’s signs and history before any treatment is started, changed or stopped.
- The sample. A sample that is clotted, too small, wrongly labelled, leaking or too old may be rejected or reported with a note, and the lab may ask for a fresh one.
- Reporting time. Confirmed when you book. Times are estimates, not guarantees, and the lab confirms the time when you book.
- Emergencies. A booking or a pending report must not delay urgent care. If an animal has collapsed, struggles to breathe, has fits or bleeds heavily, call a veterinarian at once.
Please read our Terms of Service, Medical Disclaimer, Privacy Policy and Refund and Cancellation Policy. Pashupatinath Vet Lab is operated by Duaji Healthcare and Tech Private Limited. This page is general information and does not replace a veterinarian’s advice.
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