FPC® - SV™ Fecal Parasite Concentrator

FPC® - SV™ Fecal Parasite Concentrator Special Version

The FPC®-SV™ Special Version* Fecal Parasite Concentrator, like the original FPC® and FPC® JUMBO™, is a simple, clean, and efficient device used to concentrate helminth eggs and larvae, protozoan cysts, coccidian oocysts, and microsporidian spores. Excellent results are obtained using either fresh or preserved specimens. The FPC® -SV™ is based on the outstanding technology of the original FPC® concentrator. The system couples a polypropylene tube containing a strainer/plunger apparatus with a tube of 10% formalin.

As a combination system, the FPC® -SV™, along with the FTK™ or FTK™ II specimen collection vials, provides a practical system for the collection, preservation, transportation, and processing of fecal specimens for the recovery of parasites. This system is particularly relevant for the types of animal stools seen in the veterinary practice (often formed stool and/or containing very coarse food substances).

METHODOLOGY

The methodology is a modification of the commonly used Ritchie formalin-ether (F-E) method. However the FPC® -SV™ uses a closed system comprised of a polypropylene tube containing a strainer/plunger apparatus and 8 ml of 10% formalin. This system can be used with various stool fixatives or fresh specimens.

Rather than using the older funnel-gauze method, FPC® -SV™ uses one polypropylene tube containing a precision molded strainer and plunger that couples with the tube containing 10% formalin. Using the plunger, the fresh or preserved stool is pushed through the 0.6 mm × 0.6 mm holes in the strainer into the formalin, while the excess fecal debris is retained in the cup portion of the device. At this point, the preserved specimen is ready to be concentrated; the fresh specimen should fix for approximately 30 min in the 10% formalin prior to concentration.

BENEFITS

This leakproof, self-contained concentration system leaves no mess and minimizes odor. Benefits of this approach also include the ability to standardize the fecal concentration procedure, thus eliminating varying results among different users. The procedure is easy to perform and minimizes personnel exposure to potentially infectious specimens. Fresh fecal specimens or specimens preserved in 5% or 10% formalin, merthiolate iodine formalin (MIF), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or sodium acetate-acetic acid-formalin (SAF) can be used in this system.

Overall benefits include: simplicity, safety, multiple fixative options, a proven plunger apparatus, excellent parasite recovery, standardization of the procedure, and minimal odor without funnels, gauze, and potential laboratory spills and contamination.