Modified McMaster’s technique

In today’s laboratory we will be performing the Modified McMaster’s technique (see pg. 12 or video below) to quantify the number of epg in the feces provided. Once you have prepared your fecal mixture and allowed the mixture to float using a McMaster’s slide for 30 minutes you will begin counting the number of eggs found in each chamber.

Please watch the following video before the laboratory to gain an understanding of how you will perform the procedure. We will not be reviewing this technique in class.

The next video describes the technique we use to count the eggs using a McMaster’s slide. Please forward to 3 minutes 34 secs. We will not be reviewing this technique in class.  

Below is an image of a McMaster’s slide. Each chamber holds 0.15 mL of fecal material. Additionally, each chamber has 6 vertical lanes per grid. Thus, each grid is calculated so that you can enumerate the number of eggs or oocysts per 0.15 mL of fecal material.

You will count the number of eggs or ova seen in each chamber (the total of the 6 vertical grids). Eggs or ova that touch the grid lines or are found outside of the counting chamber are excluded from the total number. The total number of each type of ova is tallied for the calculation to the following formula.

Let’s look at an example:

Fecal mass: 2 grams

The total volume of fecal solution: 60 mL

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