Pinworm tape test
pinworm test · tape test · Scotch tape test · threadworm test
A print is taken from the skin around the anus with sticky tape or a swab. It is checked under a microscope for eggs of pinworms, which are tiny worms.
For certificates for kindergarten, school, or a pool; or for itching around the anus at night, especially in children.
⏱ Duration: 1 to 2 minutes; results usually come in 1 to 2 days
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Morning. The sample is taken right after waking up, before using the toilet or washing. Pinworms lay their eggs at night.
- Washing. In the morning, do not wash yourself or your child before the test. A normal shower the evening before is fine.
- Kit. Get a kit from the lab: sticky tape on a glass slide, or a swab in a tube. Sometimes the sample is taken at the lab.
What to bring
- The kit with the sample, or your child if the sample is taken at the lab
- Your test request form
- Your ID
How it goes
- In the morning, right after waking, spread the buttocks
- Press the sticky side of the tape on the skin around the anus
- Peel off the tape and stick it on the glass slide, as the lab showed you
- If your kit has a swab, wipe the skin with it and put it in the tube
- Wash your hands and take the sample to the lab the same day
What you'll feel
- It does not hurt
- A child may feel ticklish or shy. Explain ahead of time that it is quick
Afterwards
- Results usually come in 1 to 2 days
- Sometimes the test is repeated 2 or 3 times. This is more accurate
Common questions
Why must the test be done in the morning?
Pinworms lay eggs around the anus at night. In the morning, before washing, they are easiest to find.
If pinworms are found, should the whole family be treated?
Your doctor will decide. Often everyone who lives together is treated, and bedding is changed.