String test
Information, Symptoms, Treatments and Resources
A string test involves swallowing a string to obtain a sample, which is then tested to detect the presence of intestinal parasites. The string test is rarely performed in the U.S.
You swallow a string with a weighted gelatin capsule on the end and then it is pulled back out after 4 hours. Any bile, blood, or mucus attached to the string is examined under the microscope for cell types and parts of parasites or eggs.
You may find it difficult to swallow the string, and you may feel an urge to vomit when the string is pulled up.
The test is performed when there is a suspicion of parasitic infestation but parasites are not detected by stool examination.
Abnormal results may indicate the presence of giardia or another parasitic infestation.
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