Parasitology testing

Description

The Parasitology laboratory provides diagnostic testing on production, performance, native, exotic and companion animals. Parasitological techniques used by this laboratory include:

  • Parasite identification
  • Wet prep exam
  • Baermann for lungworm
  • Quantitative faecal examination
  • Total worm counts of the gastrointestinal tract (GI) or GI washings
  • Strongyloides using a modified McMaster worm egg count technique
  • Worm typing (larval differentiation)
  • Fluke sedimentation method
  • Liver Fluke Faecal antigen ELISA

Tests available

FAECAL EGG COUNT (FEC)

Test

Sample(s) required

Days of the week test is conducted

Species

Turnaround time (TAT)1

Price (excl. GST)

Faecal egg count2,510g faeces per animal (Individual testing)

5g faeces per animal (submitted individually, pooled testing in the lab)
Monday - FridayAll species1-2DRefer to F Page

Worm test (faecal egg count)2

2 pools of 5 samples

5g faeces per animal (submitted individually, pooled testing in the lab)

Monday - FridayBovine, Ovine, Caprine and Camelid 

1-2D

Refer to W Page

Worm test (faecal egg count)2

10 individual samples

10g faeces per animal (Individual testing)Monday - FridayBovine, Ovine, Caprine and Camelid

1-2D

Refer to W Page
Pinworm – Horse*Tape6Monday - FridayEquine

3-5D

Refer to P Page

FLUKE TESTING (NON EXPORT)

Test

Sample(s) required

Days of the week test is conducted

Species

Turnaround time (TAT)1

Price (excl. GST)

Fluke (Liver/Stomach) - presence/absence: individual
(Non export/interstate/BULK submissions)
20g faeces per animal (Individual testing)

Monday - Friday

Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Camelid and Equine3-5DRefer to F Page
Fluke (Liver/stomach)- presence/absence: 2 pools of 5 samples20g faeces per animal (submitted individually, pooled testing in the lab)

Monday - Friday

Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Camelid and Equine3-5DRefer to F Page
Fluke (Liver/stomach)- presence/absence: 5 pools of 2 samples20g faeces per animal (submitted individually, pooled testing in the lab)

Monday - Friday

Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Camelid and Equine3-5DRefer to F Page
Fluke egg count (Liver/Stomach)- quantitative: Individual
(Non export/interstate/BULK submissions)
20g faeces per animal (Individual testing)

Monday - Friday

Bovine, Ovine, Caprine and Camelid3-5DRefer to F Page
Fluke egg count (Liver/Stomach)- quantitative: 2 pools of 5 samples
20g faeces per animal submitted individually, pooled testing in the lab)

Monday - Friday

Bovine, Ovine, Caprine and Camelid3-5DRefer to F Page
Fluke egg count (Liver/Stomach)- quantitative: 5 pools of 2 samples
20g faeces per animal (submitted individually, pooled testing in the lab)

Monday - Friday

Bovine, Ovine, Caprine and Camelid3-5DRefer to F Page
Fluke (Liver) Antigen ELISA - Individual10g faeces per animal (Individual testing)

Monday - Friday

Bovine and Ovine3-5DRefer to F Page
Fluke (Liver) Antigen ELISA - 2 pools of 5 samples10g faeces per animal (submitted individually, pooled testing in the lab)

Monday - Friday

Ovine ONLY3-5DRefer to F Page
Fluke (Liver) Antigen ELISA - 5 pools of 2 samples10g faeces per animal (submitted individually, pooled testing in the lab)

Monday - Friday

Bovine and Ovine3-5DRefer to F Page

DRENCH RESISTANCE

Test

Sample(s) required

Days of the week test is conducted

Species

Turnaround time (TAT)1

Price (excl. GST)
Faecal Egg Count Reduction Test - Drench Test -  4 groups (with Culture)*10g faeces per animal MINIMUM

Monday - Friday

Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Camelid and Equine8-10DRefer to F Page

Faecal Egg Count Reduction Test - Drench Test - additional single group (with Culture)*
10g faeces per animal MINIMUM

Monday - Friday

Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Camelid and Equine8-10DRefer to F Page

LARVAL DIFFERENTIATION

Test

Sample(s) required

Days of the week test is conducted

Species

Turnaround time (TAT)1

Price (excl. GST)

Larval Differentiation Only10g faeces per animal (Individual testing)

Monday - Friday

Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Camelid and Equine8-10DRefer to L Page
Larval Differentiation -With Egg count10g faeces per animal (Individual testing)

Monday - Friday

Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Camelid and Equine8-10DRefer to L Page
Larval Differentiation for Horse Worm Test10g faeces per animal (Individual testing)

Monday - Friday

Equine8-10DRefer to L Page

LUNGWORM TEST (BAERMANN)

Test

Sample(s) required

Days of the week test is conducted

Species

Turnaround time (TAT)1

Price (excl GST)

Lungworm Test (Baermann)10g faeces per animal (Individual testing)- MUST be submitted fresh <48 hours from collection. Do not chill.

Monday - Friday

Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Feline and Canine2DRefer to L Page

EXPORT/INTERSTATE TESTING

Test

Sample(s) required

Days of the week test is conducted

Species

Turnaround time (TAT)1

Price (excl. GST)

Liver fluke test for export to Western Australia (individual testing only)

20g Faeces per animal- MUST be submitted individually and labelled clearly with ID.

Monday - Friday

Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Camelid and Equine

1-19 samples= 1-2W4

20+ samples- Lab to confirm TAT

If express testing is required, please call and discuss with Customer Service BEFORE samples arrive. Anything less than 5 days will incur express test charges.

We will need the following information: number of samples, sample collection date, date samples will be submitted to the lab, border crossing date and the required reporting date.

Refer to L Page

Liver fluke test for International Exports (individual testing only)

20g Faeces per animal- MUST be submitted individually and labelled clearly with ID.

Monday - Friday

Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Camelid and Equine

1-19 samples= 1-2W4

20+ samples- Lab to confirm TAT

If express testing is required, please call and discuss with Customer Service BEFORE samples arrive. Anything less than 5 days will incur express test charges.

We will need the following information: number of samples, sample collection date, date samples will be submitted to the lab, export date and the required reporting date.

Refer to L Page
Faecal Egg Count (Egwang & Slowcome method) for Export10g faeces per animal (Individual testing)

Monday - Friday

Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Camelid and Equine2DRefer to F Page
Parasitology express testingN/AN/ABovine, Ovine, Caprine, Camelid and Equine

If express testing is required, please call and discuss with Customer Service BEFORE samples arrive. Anything less than 5 days will incur express test charges.

We will need the following information: number of samples, sample collection date, date samples will be submitted to the lab, border crossing date and the required reporting date.

Refer to P Page

PARASITE IDENTIFICATION

Test

Sample(s) required

Days of the week test is conducted

Species

Turnaround time (TAT)1

Price (excl. GST)
Parasite Identification (simple- single)Whole parasite- Liver Fluke Snail, Tick, Other samples- contact Customer Service

Monday - Friday

All speciesUp to 5DRefer to P Page
Parasite Identification (complex- single)Whole parasite- Liver Fluke Snail, Tick, Other samples- contact Customer Service

Monday - Friday

All speciesUp to 10DRefer to P Page
Parasite identification (up to 5 organisms)Whole parasite- Liver Fluke Snail, Tick, Other samples- contact Customer Service

Monday - Friday

All speciesUp to 10DRefer to P Page
Parasite identification (up to 10 organisms)Whole parasite- Liver Fluke Snail, Tick, Other samples- contact Customer Service

Monday - Friday

All speciesUp to 10DRefer to P Page
Parasite identification (multiple organisms)Whole parasite- Liver Fluke Snail, Tick, Other samples- contact Customer Service

Monday - Friday

All speciesUp to 10DRefer to P Page

WET PREP

Test

Sample(s) required

Days of the week test is conducted

Species

Turnaround time (TAT)1

Price (excl. GST)
Wet Preparation & Microscopic ExaminationFaeces, Gastro-intestinal content

Monday - Friday

All species1-2DRefer to W Page
Flotation concentration (alternative to wet prep)Faeces, Gastro-intestinal content

Monday - Friday

All species1-2DRefer to F Page

WORM COUNT

Test

Sample(s) required

Days of the week test is conducted

Species

Turnaround time (TAT)1

Price (excl. GST)
Worm Count – AliquotGastro-intestinal contentOn request onlyBovine, Ovine, Caprine, Camelid and EquineOn Request- Contact Customer ServiceRefer to W Page
Worm Count – TotalGastro-intestinal contentOn request onlyBovine, Ovine, Caprine, Camelid and EquineOn Request- Contact Customer ServiceRefer to W Page

ZOO ANIMALS

Test

Sample(s) required

Days of the week test is conducted

Species

Turnaround time (TAT)1

Price (excl. GST)
Nematode Egg Count (Modified McMaster) General Zoo Animals (≤3 samples – price per sample)5*10g faeces per animal (Individual testing)On requestZoo- Contact Customer Service1-2DRefer to N Page
Nematode Egg Count (Modified McMaster) General Zoo Animals (up to 5 samples – per batch)5*10g faeces per animal (Individual testing)On requestZoo- Contact Customer Service1-2DRefer to N Page
Nematode Egg Count (Modified McMaster) Predator (Zoonotic) per sample5*10g faeces per animal (Individual testing)On requestZoo- Contact Customer Service1-2DRefer to N Page

1 Turnaround times are provided as a guide only. For specific information about your submission please contact Customer Service.
2 ONLY Individual samples are accepted. No pooled samples are accepted.
3 Larval differentiation is performed if the faecal egg count is > 100 eggs per gram. Results are presented as % Trichostrongylus, Ostertagia and Haemonchus. This test must be specifically requested on the submission form if required.

4Without prior arrangement 1-2 weeks. Priority service will incur an additional surcharge. Please contact Customer Service
to discuss.

5 The following FEC tests are not NATA accredited (However, are completed in a NATA accredited laboratory): Zoo FEC.

6 Contact Customer Service to speak to the lab regarding collection tape samples for this test.

*Test is not NATA accredited however is completed in a NATA accredited laboratory.

Specimen requirements

Faeces

  • Submit chilled for FEC only. If larval diff is requested also, please do not chill.
  • The use of a WormTest kit for collection is recommended for flock or herd testing
  • Refer to the sample collection guide for additional information on sample collection for faecal egg count (worm testing), or faecal egg count reduction (drench test).

Fresh Tissue

  • Abomasum, large intestine, small intestine or intestinal contents
    • Submit chilled

Parasite (Snail, tick or other parasite)

  • Whole parasite or snail
    • Submit either dry, fresh, in ethanol or in water. Please DO NOT submit in formalin.

Gastro-intestinal content

  • Aliquot of gut scraping
    • Submit chilled

Further information

WormTest Kits

WormTest Kits provided by rural suppliers and from NSW DPI on request (Please note: Kits are to be returned to EMAI for testing and not used to submit to other laboratories). They can be used as a simple and quick way to monitor your worm control program by checking drench effectiveness through standard faecal egg counts and are available for horse and livestock. They contain an information sheet, collection instructions, prepaid postage to the laboratory, a mailing container, a glove and ten sample containers. Two options are available:

  • Worm test (faecal egg count) – Pooled (2 pools of 5 samples)
    • This test is offered for up to ten animals and samples are pooled in the lab into two worm tests. This is a cost effective way to monitor your herd’s health and drenching needs. A minimum of 5 grams of faeces per animal is required.
  • Worm test (faecal egg count) – Individual (10 individual samples)
    • This test is offered for up to ten animals and each sample is tested and reported individually. Animals that are housed separately should be tested individually. Using this test you can benefit from the cost savings by submitting up to ten animals’ samples together from multiple sites. A minimum of 10 grams of faeces per animal is required.

Contact Customer Service or complete the online form to request a Worm Test kit.

Customer Service

Contact Customer Service for enquiries relating to testing and results, quotations and pricing, couriers, sample submission and invoicing.

NSW DPI's laboratories are committed to continual improvement of services. If you would like to provide feedback, please fill in and submit the online feedback form.

CONTACT DETAILS

Phone1800 675 623
Email

laboratory.services@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Operating Hours

8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays)

8:30am-12:00pm Saturday (for deliveries only)

Postal Address

Private Bag 4008, Narellan NSW 2567

Quotations

For Animal export, Plant health or Veterinary quotations, please complete the online quotation request

For Edible oil & oilseed or Feed quality quotations and pricing enquiries, please contact DPI AgEnviro Labs at Wagga Wagga on (02) 6938 1957

For Plant nutrition, Soil health or Water quality quotations and pricing enquiries, please contact DPI AgEnviro Labs at Wollongbar on (02) 6626 1103

Submission Forms

Veterinary Specimen Advice Form

Parasitology Submission Form

Please Note: These documents are not fully web accessible, please contact Customer Service (laboratory.services@dpi.nsw.gov.au) for more information.

Courier services and specimen delivery

For NSW submissions, please contact the relevant Customer Service team for courier account details and to order consignment notes.

For submitters outside of NSW, Couriers can be contacted directly to make bookings and arrange collection of packages at the submitters own cost.

Commercial couriers may use either road or air transport and specimens should therefore be packed in accordance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) requirements. Most submission sent by veterinarians to the SVDL for testing are defined as “Biological Substance Category B” and must be packed according to the IATA packing instructions 650 (Biological Substance Category B). As requirements for transport can change, customers should consult with their transport agent to obtain current requirements.

Samples may also be hand delivered to the site during normal business hours (8.30am - 4.30pm).

Sample Type

Laboratory

Street Address

Animal (including aquatic animals)

NSW Animal and Plant Health Laboratories (APHL)

EMAI, Woodbridge Road, Menangle NSW 2568