Smear of duodenal fluid aspirate

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Duodenum tissue smear

Smear of duodenal fluid aspirate is an examination of fluid from the duodenum for a possible infection. Usually the health care practitioner is looking for either giardia or strongyloides.

Duodenal aspirated fluid smear

The specimen is obtained by EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy), a flexible scope that is passed through the mouth and stomach to the duodenum in order to view the organs and obtain specimens.

The test may also be performed by passing a thin flexible tube into the small intestine. The position of the tube can be confirmed by the pH (acid-base balance) of the fluid or by an x-ray.

Fluid is aspirated (suctioned up) from the duodenum when the tube or the scope is in proper position. The fluid is placed on a microscope slide and stained for examination.

Do not eat or drink anything, even water, for 12 hours before the test.

You may have a gagging sensation as the tube is passed, but it is usually not painful.

The test is performed to diagnose infection of the small bowel. In most cases, this test is only done when stool examinations and a duodenal string test have been unable to confirm the diagnosis.

Review Date: 02/10/2006
Reviewed By: Kenneth Wener, M.D., Division of Infectious Diseases, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.