Evaluation of the importance of centrifugation as a component of zinc sulfate fecal flotation examinations.

Fifty canine fecal samples were evaluated by five flotation procedures to compare the sensitivity of the zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) centrifugation flotation test with ZnSO4 flotation tests using benchtop incubation during the flotation period. One or more parasite species were detected in 40 samples. Results showed that centrifugation with ZnSO4 solution was significantly more likely to detect a positive sample than benchtop procedures. The difference in procedures was due primarily to increased detection of Trichuris eggs and Giardia cysts by centrifugal flotation. No significant difference was seen in the ability of benchtop procedures to detect positive samples when tests sat either for 5 or 10 minutes before examination.