Evaluation of the Performance of the Orienter FA280 Feces Analyzer for Parasite Detection in Stool Samples Compared to Normal Saline Staining
Keywords:
parasite detection, diagnostic methods, normal saline staining, Orienter FA280 Feces AnalyzerAbstract
Background and Objective: Detecting parasites in stool samples is crucial for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal parasitic infections. Traditionally, normal saline staining (NSS) is the standard method employed for parasite detection. However, advancements in automated diagnostic systems, such as the Orienter FA280 Feces Analyzer, present new opportunities to enhance efficiency and minimize human error. This study aims to compare the performance of NSS and the Orienter FA280 Feces Analyzer in detecting parasites in stool samples from patients at Loei Hospital, focusing on detection rates and statistical correlations to assess the potential of both methods.
Methodology: The study was designed as a comparative study. Fresh stool samples from 350 patients were simultaneously analyzed using NSS and the Orienter FA280 Feces Analyzer. The results were statistically analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient, and diagnostic performance metrics including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and overall accuracy.
Results: A low-to-moderate positive correlation (r = 0.39) was observed between NSS and the Orienter FA280 Feces Analyzer. However, NSS exhibited higher sensitivity, particularly for diagnosing certain parasite species. The calculated sensitivity of NSS was 100%, while its specificity was 92.42%, indicating that NSS detected all true-positive cases and provided highly accurate negative results. In contrast, the Orienter FA280 Feces Analyzer demonstrated rapid detection of common parasites, particularly Strongyloides stercoralis, Taenia spp., and Blastocystis hominis, which were the most frequently detected parasites in the samples. Nevertheless, the PPV of the automated system was only 16.13%, suggesting a high false-positive rate, highlighting the necessity for confirmatory testing to ensure diagnostic accuracy.
Conclusion: The Orienter FA280 Feces Analyzer shows promise as a rapid screening tool, making it well-suited for high-throughput laboratory settings. However, NSS remains essential for confirmatory diagnosis, particularly for parasite species requiring expert microscopic interpretation. A combined diagnostic approach, integrating both automated and conventional methods, may enhance the accuracy and efficiency of parasite detection in clinical practice.
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