Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I was in a lab the other day and we were conducting fecal egg counts. We used this piece of equipment which fit inside of a 100ml cylinder, it was a plastic tube with a permanently fixed filter on the bottom of it. If someone could help me identify the name of this piece of equipment that would be fantastic.

Hi Anna,

That's a new one for me! I had to look up 'fecal egg count' and I discovered that it refers to a method for determining how many parasite eggs are in the feces of sheep, goats, horses, etc. This test is apparently something livestock owners have to do to insure that a deworming treatment has worked on their animals. I read the instructions for how to prepare a sample of manure to use in the McMaster slide system and I did not see anything about a plastic tube with a filter on the end. They do mention using a tea strainer or piece of fabric to remove the debris from the fecal pellets so I am guessing that is what the tube is for. Is that correct?

So, what would you call it? A fecal filter or sieve I suppose. I can't think of a more specific name. Maybe one of the other people on the forum is familiar with this method.

Sybee