Practical Guide to Diagnostic Parasitology, 2nd Edition

Practical Guide to Diagnostic Parasitology, 2nd Edition by Lynne Shore Garcia is a practical reference for the laboratory diagnosis of parasitic infections. Published by ASM Press, the book focuses on diagnostic procedures used to detect and identify medically important parasites, making it particularly useful for clinical microbiology and medical laboratory science.

With 448 pages, it combines foundational parasitology with practical laboratory methods and is suitable for students, laboratory professionals, and healthcare practitioners involved in diagnostic parasitology.

About the Book

Accurate diagnosis of parasitic infections depends heavily on appropriate specimen collection, processing, microscopy, and identification.

This guide provides practical information on parasitological specimens, laboratory examination techniques, parasite identification, quality control, and diagnostic interpretation.

Diagnostic Parasitology

The book introduces the principles underlying the laboratory diagnosis of parasitic diseases.

It covers the identification of protozoa, helminths, and other medically important parasites and explains how laboratory findings contribute to the diagnosis of infection.

Specimen Collection and Processing

The quality of a parasitology diagnosis begins with appropriate specimen collection.

The book discusses important considerations for specimen selection, collection, preservation, transport, and processing, helping laboratories obtain reliable diagnostic results.

Microscopic Examination

Microscopy remains an important tool in diagnostic parasitology.

The text provides guidance on examining clinical specimens for parasite eggs, larvae, cysts, trophozoites, and other diagnostic forms.

Protozoan Parasites

Medically important protozoa can be identified using a range of laboratory techniques.

The book covers approaches for detecting and identifying intestinal and other clinically significant protozoan parasites in patient specimens.

Helminth Diagnosis

Helminth infections require recognition of characteristic eggs, larvae, and adult forms.

The guide discusses laboratory methods for identifying nematodes, cestodes, trematodes, and their diagnostic stages.

Concentration and Staining Techniques

Laboratory techniques can improve the detection of parasites in clinical specimens.

The book provides practical guidance on concentration procedures, staining methods, microscopy, and other diagnostic techniques used in parasitology laboratories.

Laboratory Identification

Correct identification requires careful observation of morphological characteristics.

The text emphasizes the recognition of morphological features and diagnostic characteristics that distinguish different parasitic organisms.

Quality Control

Reliable parasitology testing requires consistent laboratory procedures.

The book addresses principles of quality assurance, quality control, laboratory accuracy, and diagnostic reliability.

Molecular and Modern Diagnostic Approaches

Diagnostic parasitology has expanded beyond traditional microscopy.

The book provides context for understanding newer approaches that complement conventional methods, including antigen detection and molecular diagnostic techniques.

Who Is This Book For?

Practical Guide to Diagnostic Parasitology, 2nd Edition can be useful for:

• Medical laboratory science students
• Clinical microbiology students
• Medical parasitology students
• Clinical laboratory professionals
• Medical technologists
• Biomedical science students
• Microbiology researchers
• Parasitology researchers
• Healthcare professionals

It is particularly useful as a laboratory-oriented reference for students and professionals learning diagnostic parasitology techniques.

Final Thoughts

Practical Guide to Diagnostic Parasitology, 2nd Edition provides a practical approach to identifying parasites responsible for human disease.

Its emphasis on specimen handling, microscopy, concentration and staining techniques, protozoan and helminth identification, laboratory quality, and diagnostic methods makes it a valuable resource for clinical laboratories and students studying medical parasitology.

Book Information

Title: Practical Guide to Diagnostic Parasitology
Edition: 2nd Edition
Author: Lynne Shore Garcia
Publisher: ASM Press
Publication Date: April 21, 2009
Language: English
Print Length: 448 pages
ISBN-10: 1555814549
ISBN-13: 978-1555814540
Subject: Diagnostic Parasitology / Medical Parasitology / Clinical Microbiology / Laboratory Medicine

Practical Guide to Diagnostic Parasitology, 2nd Edition provides practical coverage of specimen processing, microscopy, parasite identification, concentration and staining techniques, and laboratory diagnosis of protozoan and helminth infections, making it a useful reference for students and clinical laboratory professionals.