Urine for Schistosoma haematobium
Sampling protocol
- For the demonstration of eggs of Schistosoma haematobium, a random urine sample should be collected preferably between 10 am and 2 pm as the concentration of eggs is greater during this period, particularly in the last drops of passed urine
- Exercise just before collection will increase the excretion of eggs (eg 20 rapid knee bends or running up and down a flight of stairs several times)
- Ask the patient to pass urine in a large bottle between 10 am and 2 pm
- Shake the bottle well and fill a conical specimen glass with the urine
- Let the urine in the glass specimen stand for at least 30 minutes – by that time any schistosome eggs will have settled at the bottom of the specimen glass)
- Without disturbing the deposit, carefully pour away the supernatant urine so that only 10 mL are left
- Mix the deposit by shaking and pour this into a specimen tube
- Send the specimen tube to the laboratory
- Large bottle
- Conical specimen glass
- Specimen tube (10 mL)