infections
Loiasis
Diagnosis of Loiasis
Examination or testing of a sample of blood Observation of worms traveling under the conjunctiva of the eye Identification of worms removed from the eye or skin Doctors suspect loiasis in people who have typical symptoms if they have traveled to or emigrated from areas in western and central Africa where the infection occurs. Doctors diagnose loiasis when they identify microfilariae in a sample of blood examined under a microscope. The sample is taken between 10 AM and 2 PM, when the most microfilariae are in the bloodstream. Occasionally, doctors diagnose loiasis when they see worms traveling under the conjunctiva of the eye or when they identify worms removed from the eye or skin. New diagnostic tests can identify genetic material (DNA) of the parasite in a blood sample, but these tests are not widely available. 