Factors affecting recovery of Strongyloides stercoralis larvae: an approach to a newly modified formalin-ether concentration technique for diagnosis of strongyloidiasis.

To improve the diagnosis efficiency of human strongyloidiasis by using formalin-ether concentration technique (FECT), the effects of various factors on the recovery rates of Strongyloides stercoralis larvae were comparatively evaluated. Fresh stool and a short time exposure of larvae to formalin yielded significantly higher numbers of larvae than preserved stool and 10-min exposure. Likewise, straining through wire mesh yielded a significantly higher number of larvae recovered than straining through gauze did. In addition, centrifugation for 5 min for separation of larvae from debris yielded a significantly greater number of larvae recovered than centrifugation for 2 min did. The efficacies of the five versions of FECT with different factors--FECT 1, FECT 2, FECT 3, FECT 4, and FECT 5--were then compared. It was found that FECT 5 was 1.8, 2.0, 1.9, and 1.4 times more effective than FECT 1, FECT 2, FECT 3, and FECT 4, respectively. FECT 5 is a modified FECT method, whose modifications included using fresh stool without a preservative substance; a short-time rather than 10-min formalin exposure; and the use of wire mesh instead of gauze.