Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) Practice Exam

Which organism is collected using the cellophane tape method?

1. Tapeworm ova

2. Hookworm ova

3. Whipworm ova

4. Pinworm ova

The correct answer is: Pinworm ova

The cellophane tape method is specifically designed for collecting samples of pinworm ova, primarily due to the life cycle and laying habits of the pinworm, Enterobius vermicularis. This method involves pressing a piece of clear tape against the perianal area, which can effectively capture the eggs that are laid there, as female pinworms exit the anus to deposit their eggs. This technique is particularly useful because pinworm infestation can often be light, and conventional stool samples may not yield the eggs, ultimately leading to false negatives. Collecting samples in this manner increases the likelihood of detecting the eggs and confirming the presence of the infection. Other organisms mentioned, such as tapeworms, hookworms, and whipworms, have different life cycles and reproductive patterns that do not involve depositing eggs on the skin outside the body in a manner that can be easily captured with tape. As such, different collection methods would be needed for those types of ova, which is why they are not primarily collected using the cellophane tape method.