Hanging Drop preparation

Bacterial/ Viral

Report in 12Hrs

At Home

No Fasting Required

Details

Microscopy for motile organisms.

₹281₹402

30% OFF

Hanging Drop Preparation - Comprehensive Medical Test Guide

Why is it done?
- Observes live motility of microorganisms in their native state without staining or fixing
- Detects motile bacteria, particularly spirilla and vibrios, in clinical specimens
- Diagnoses trichomonas vaginalis infection in urogenital specimens
- Identifies motile organisms in fecal samples, particularly in diarrheal disease investigations
- Assists in diagnosis of Lyme disease and syphilis by observing Borrelia and Treponema pallidum
- Performs quality control in microbiology laboratories for motility assessment
- Typically ordered when acute bacterial or parasitic infection is suspected
Normal Range
- Normal Result: Negative or No motile organisms present
- Measurement: Qualitative observation (presence or absence of motility)
- Negative = No motile pathogenic organisms detected; indicates absence of certain bacterial or parasitic infections
- Positive = Motile organisms observed; indicates presence of specific pathogenic bacteria or parasites such as Trichomonas vaginalis, Vibrio species, or spirilla
- Units: Reported as Positive, Negative, or Not Detected; may describe specific organism type and degree of motility (minimal, moderate, active)
Interpretation
- Positive Result Indicates:
  - Active infection with motile pathogenic organisms requiring immediate treatment
  - Trichomonas vaginalis: Characteristic jerky, twitching motility in urogenital samples
  - Vibrio species: Rapid, darting motility in cholera or gastroenteritis cases
  - Spirilla (Borrelia): Corkscrew motility in Lyme disease specimens
- Negative Result Indicates:
  - No detectable motile organisms in the specimen
  - Absence of specific parasitic or motile bacterial infections being investigated
- Factors Affecting Results:
  - Temperature: Motility decreases significantly at temperatures below 20°C; test must be performed promptly
  - Specimen age: Fresh samples required; organisms lose motility within 1-2 hours
  - Contamination or improper collection technique leading to false negatives
  - Presence of antimicrobial agents or disinfectants in the specimen
  - pH and osmotic conditions affecting organism viability
  - Observer experience and microscopy technique
- Clinical Significance:
  - Positive result provides rapid presumptive identification without requiring culture time (24-72 hours)
  - Enables immediate treatment decisions in symptomatic patients
  - Negative result does not definitively exclude infection; culture or other tests may be needed
Associated Organs
- Primary Organ Systems:
  - Urogenital tract: Most common site for Trichomonas vaginalis infections
  - Gastrointestinal tract: For detection of Vibrio species and other motile pathogens
  - Circulatory system: For spirochete detection in bloodborne infections
  - Cerebrospinal fluid: For detection of motile meningitis-causing organisms
- Diseases Diagnosed or Monitored:
  - Trichomoniasis: Most common parasitic sexually transmitted infection
  - Cholera and other Vibrio-related gastroenteritis
  - Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi detection)
  - Secondary syphilis (early Treponema pallidum detection)
  - Acute bacterial diarrhea and dysentery
  - Bacterial meningitis caused by motile organisms
- Potential Complications with Abnormal Results:
  - Trichomoniasis: Urethritis, vaginitis, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility if untreated
  - Cholera: Severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, shock, death if untreated
  - Lyme disease: Arthritis, neurological complications, cardiac involvement if progressive
  - Syphilis: Neurosyphilis, cardiovascular involvement, congenital transmission
Follow-up Tests
- If Positive Result:
  - Culture and sensitivity: Confirm organism identification and determine antibiotic susceptibility
  - Gram stain: Morphological identification and additional microscopic examination
  - PCR or nucleic acid amplification tests: Highly sensitive confirmation for specific organisms
  - Serology: Antibody testing for infections like Lyme disease and syphilis
  - Partner notification and testing: For sexually transmitted infections
- If Negative Result:
  - Culture: Proceed with culture if clinical suspicion remains high
  - Repeat hanging drop: Recollect specimen if original was aged or improperly handled
  - Stained smear: Wet mount preparation or Wright's stain for alternative identification
  - PCR testing: For organisms that may have low motility or viability
- Complementary Tests:
  - Rapid plasma reagin (RPR) or VDRL: For syphilis screening
  - Fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS): Confirmatory syphilis test
  - Lyme disease serology (ELISA/Western blot): For suspected Borrelia infection
  - Stool culture: For Vibrio or other gastrointestinal pathogens
- Monitoring/Follow-up Frequency:
  - Immediate upon positive result: Start appropriate antimicrobial therapy
  - Post-treatment test of cure: For certain organisms (Trichomonas) 3 weeks after treatment completion
  - Contact tracing and testing: For sexually transmitted infections
  - Serial serology: For Lyme disease and syphilis to document seroconversion
Fasting Required?
- Fasting: NO - Fasting is not required for hanging drop preparation
- Special Specimen Requirements:
  - Fresh specimen: Must be examined within 10-30 minutes of collection for optimal motility
  - No fixatives: Do not use formalin or other preservatives that kill organisms
  - Room temperature transport: Keep specimens at room temperature (20-25°C); avoid refrigeration
  - Sterile containers: Collect in sterile, screw-capped tubes without additives
  - Adequate volume: Collect sufficient specimen (at least 1-5 mL depending on source)
- Patient Preparation Instructions:
  - No special fasting or diet restrictions
  - For urogenital specimens: Do not urinate for at least 1 hour before collection (to concentrate organisms)
  - Avoid recent antibiotic use within 48 hours if possible
  - Do not douche or use vaginal products for 24 hours before collection (for female urogenital samples)
  - For fecal specimens: Collect first bowel movement of the day if possible
- Medications/Supplements to Avoid:
  - Antibiotics: Avoid for 48 hours before collection to prevent false negatives
  - Antimicrobial agents: Avoid topical disinfectants or antiseptic preparations before collection
  - Antidiarrheal medications: Should not significantly impact specimen collection
- Specimen Collection Timing:
  - Can be collected at any time of day
  - No time restrictions for fasting
  - Immediate analysis required: Do not delay transportation to lab

How our test process works!