Good article describing symptoms of parasites, types of parasties etc., but what I thought most interesting was the discussion of more accurate methods for parasite testing:
Human Parasites diagnosis of human parasite infections
The conventional method of laboratory analysis has been the use of a microscope to analyze stool specimens for human parasites, eggs, or their cysts. This has resulted in a high failure rate of identification. Dr. Skye Weintraub, N.D.,has written an excellent book on parasites (The Parasite Menace, 2000); he recommends you consider the following factors when attempting to achieve a more accurate identification of parasites:
• Choose a lab that analyzes parasites as their specialty
• Make sure they analyze
multiple stool specimens instead of just one
•
Choose the rectal swab technique which analyzes mucus instead of stool
• Choose a lab that uses a fluorescent stain; this makes identification more accurate
•
Consider immunoassay test for the identification of parasites, which detects antibodies and is not dependent on stool samples
•
For detecting parasites outside of the intestinal tract, consider the following blood tests: indirect hemagglutination test; ELISA assay; latex agglutination; and counter-immuno-electro-phoresis
All of the above points about parasite testing is important, but I have bold faced what probably most of us have not had done when tested for parasite infections. No wonder most of us are told we have no parasites.
Of course any parasite test is limited to finding those parasites which are known to infest humans. Those which are not known will still escape the radar.