How to report findings is dependent upon the extent to which identification should be made as determined by the laboratory's medical director. Arthropods that are not of medical importance should not be identified and reported to the genus or species level, as the reporting might cause confusion in the process of patient diagnosis.
When reporting the findings, consider including the following information:
Result field
- Whether the specimen submitted was a partial or whole arthropod.
- "Arthropod of medical importance identified: ______" (Name the tick, mite, louse, etc., including genus and species if warranted.)
- Include whether the specimen was engorged with blood. (Useful for ticks.)
- If no arthropod is present, report: "Negative" or "No ectoparasites found" or "No arthropods present";
- "Specimen submitted was not determined to be an arthropod of medical importance", "Arthropod/insect, not of public health importance", or similar wording depending on the laboratory's reporting template. (The insect or specimen sent to the laboratory for identification may not be an arthropod of medical importance. It is important to acknowledge that the specimen was present, even though further identification was not made.)
- Skin scrapings for scabies examination are usually coded under a different test name and method. Report as, "Scabies seen" or "No scabies seen". Alternatively, report as, "Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis present" or "No Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis present".
Reference Value Field
Always include a reference value field along with the result findings field in the final report. The wording will be dependent on the actual test performed and its description.
Examples of this field include:
- No arthropods of medical importance present.
- Negative for the presence of arthropods of medical importance.
- No scabies present.
- Negative for the presence of scabies.
- No Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis present.
- None seen.
