The pre-analytical phase in parasitology

Abstract

Parasites are among the main agents of the diseases from which mankind suffers. The parasitology laboratory plays an important role in the diagnosis of parasitic disease. One of its main challenges is to achieve, maintain and improve the accuracy, reliability and speed of its analyses. However, only good quality management in the laboratory will enable these objectives to be achieved and reliable results to be delivered. The pre-analytical phase covers all stages from the medical prescription, through sampling, routing, reception, non-conformity analysis, recording, pre-treatment and storage, right up to the analysis of the sample in the laboratory [3]. A number of requirements need to be taken into account in order to master all the stages of this process, over which the biologist has little control, as a significant proportion takes place outside the laboratory. In the present work, we have highlighted the importance and complexity of the pre-analytical phase in parasitology. We have identified and described the various sub-processes involved in this phase, namely: prescription, timing of sampling, its stages, routing, reception and storage. We have also described the main investigations that can be carried out on each type of sample in the various parasitology laboratories in general, and in our laboratory in particular.