For 20 years and through all seasons, Horsemen's Laboratory has been performing fecal egg counts on stool samples sent through the mail. Before we started offering this service to our clients, we sent the samples through the mail as a test and found that most samples were good for a week or more.
Though temperature can affect the development of eggs in a stool sample, Horsemen's Laboratory results appear to be only slightly affected during the summer months. Of samples tested during the months of July, August, and September, 63.87% were negative (no eggs found on counting chamber). Of Samples tested during the months of November, December, and January, 65.89% were negative.
Horsemen's Laboratory recommends packing the sample container completely to limit exposure to oxygen because eggs need oxygen to develop and hatch. (Even if the eggs hatch, we just count the larvae we find in the sample.) A recent study at the University of Georgia confirmed that samples placed in a fairly air-tight container were good for at least five days. Collecting the sample early in the week and avoiding holidays will minimize the amount of time a sample spends in the mail. Following these guidelines will ensure the most accurate results.
Horsemen’s Laboratory owner Dr. John Byrd has extensive experience with racing and breeding horses and oversees Westbrook Boarding Stable. He created Horsemen's Laboratory in 1992 so that horse owners could better evaluate their horse’s worm control programs.
Visit www.horsemenslab.com to learn more about Horsemen’s Laboratory and parasites, to sign up for the monthly newsletter, and to order testing kits. You can also order kits by calling 1-800-544-0599.
If you have questions specific to your barn, pastures, or testing program contact Dr. John Byrd by:
e-mail [email protected]
telephone 1-800-544-0599
contact form at www.horsemenslab.com