title: Performance evaluation of direct saline stool microscopy, Formol ether concentration and Kato Katz diagnostic methods for intestinal parasitosis in the absence of gold standard methods.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The parasite load within the sample and the amount of sample taken during examination greatly compromise the sensitivity of direct saline stool microscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in March 2011 in Bahir Dar city among 778 fresh single stool samples to evaluate the performance of direct saline (DS), Kato Katz (KK) and Formol ether concentration (FEC) methods against the 'Gold' standard.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 778 stool samples from school age children, the highest prevalence of intestinal parasites was recorded by FEC (55.1%). The sensitivity of DS, FEC and KK were 61.1%, 92.3% and 58.7%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FEC is more sensitive than DS and KK. Hence, use of the latter is preferred.
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia tadessehailu89@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Tadesse
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hailu
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Bayeh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abera
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005404:Fixatives / Q000737:chemistry; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005404:Fixatives; D005557:Formaldehyde; D012965:Sodium Chloride
keywords: Direct stool microscopy; Formol ether concentration; Kato Katz; NPV; sensitivity