Fecal Results

[Beachbum1]

What do the DIRECT results mean in a fecal test?

 

DIRECT= 4+ cocci 1+ motility

DIRECT2= 1+ endospores

DIRECT3= filamentous rod 3+

DIRECT4= occ rbc

 

I got a copy of the test results emailed to me after discussing the test results with the vet's office.

Now it's the weekend, and I was curious what the results mean.

[macoduck]

Checking on Google, "dog fecal exams + direct" :

Fecal examination procedures likely to be accepted and implemented in most veterinary practices include flotation (centrifugal or passive), sedimentation, and direct examination (direct smear). Only flotation and sedimentation are concentration procedures. Direct smears have poor sensitivity because of the small amount of feces examined, but may be useful for demonstrating motile organisms. CAPC recommends that feces be routinely screened by a centrifugal flotation method, which is consistently more sensitive than simple flotation. Accuracy of centrifugal flotation techniques depends on procedural details and specimen attributes.

From https://www.capcvet.org/resource-library/fecal-exam-procedures1

 

http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/parasit06/website/directex.htm

http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/accurate-evaluation-fecal-samples-critical-patient

 

Not much help but that will give you some reading material until the GTers who really know about this stuff see your post.

[tbhounds]

Those are direct smear results-any reason they did that rather than a float?

[Beachbum1]

Those are direct smear results-any reason they did that rather than a float?

They did a float, too, and that was negative.

I was just wondering what the results mean.

[tbhounds]

They did a float, too, and that was negative.

I was just wondering what the results mean.

Oh-gotcha. It's actually a good practice to have both done. They noted various bacteria--normal to find that in poop :-)