Who should take the test?

In our latitudes, infection with pinworms, also called threadworms, is the most common worm disease in humans. An infection with pinworms is often described as a children’s disease, although adults can be just as affected. The worms are very small and grow to only about 0.5- 1.3 cm in size. The eggs are not visible to the naked eye, but can be seen under a microscope. If worm eggs enter our body during an infection, they mature into sexually mature worms in the intestine. The males die after fertilization, while the females migrate through the body to the rectum and then lay their eggs in the so-called anal folds of the human body. This leads to a usually severe (nocturnal) itching.

How does it work?

If a pinworm infestation is suspected, a stool test is unfortunately not suitable for diagnosis, as the eggs are located in the skin and are not excreted in the stool. In this case, a sticky tape test is performed. For this purpose, a transparent adhesive strip is briefly pressed onto the anus before the morning toilet and then stuck onto a microscope slide. The slide is then sent in for examination.

It is important to use a transparent adhesive strip and not a matt one, otherwise an evaluation is not possible. Also, if possible, no fecal residues should adhere to the adhesive strip, as these also hinder an evaluation.

Simply take the samples at home, send them back to us and we will send you your results by email within 14 days. You can then discuss these results with your doctor or practitioner, who can advise you on the further course of action and the various therapeutic options.

What guidance will I get along with my results?

We always recommend the discussion of the mailed results with your doctor or practitioner. Besides, further information is available on our website, especially in the different test categories, under “health conditions” and the FAQs. Still have questions? Then you can contact us by mail at contact@verisana.co.uk.