An Optimized Medium BMX for Preservation of Fecal Samples

Thomas Egwang of Med Biotech Laboratories in Uganda will develop a reformulated medium derived from mammalian cell culture medium that is optimized for storage and preservation of stool-derived helminth eggs. Diagnosis of soil-transmitted helminth infections, which cause considerable morbidity in developing countries, involves microscopic examination of fecal samples. The accuracy of these methods depends on how well the sample has been preserved since collection. They will use a classical diagnostic test to evaluate a selection of cell culture media in combination with different preservatives for preserving hookworm eggs at different temperatures for up to 14 days. The best combination will be deconstructed into its chemical ingredients and reformulated from scratch, and tested in the laboratory and in the field.