The case for parasitological stool microscopy

Although some authors soon expect stool microscopy to disappear from clinical parasitology laboratories, more recently developed techniques lack coverage of many pathogenic parasites. Moreover, these new techniques do not provide generic information such as the presence of human blood cells or Charcot-Leyden crystals. Their deployment will likely decrease the number of microscopic stool exams performed, which might result in a loss of microscopic skills and technical expertise. New strategies should be considered for specialized parasitology laboratories, complementing newly developed techniques with conventional stool microscopy, rather than replacing it.