True or False: Fecal flotation and sedimentation are two methods for collecting the eggs of internal parasites for identification.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only flotation
• D. Only sedimentation

Answer: (A)

Two main stool examination techniques rely on the physical properties of parasite eggs: buoyancy and density. Fecal flotation uses a saturated solution with higher specific gravity than most eggs, so the eggs float to the surface and can be collected on a coverslip for microscopic identification. Sedimentation, in contrast, allows heavier eggs to settle to the bottom, concentrating them for examination. Some eggs float readily, some settle best, and some don’t float well at all, so using both methods increases the likelihood of detecting a wider range of parasites. For this reason, the statement is true.