Human Cheek Swab Parasite Screen

18S Amplicon Sequencing for Oral and Mucosal Eukaryotic Pathogen Detection

The PathOID.ai Human Cheek Swab Parasite Screen uses 18S ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing to identify eukaryotic parasites and fungi present in the oral cavity and mucosal tissue. Sequencing reads are classified against a curated reference database of nearly 500,000 18S rRNA sequences spanning 33 eukaryotic phyla, developed specifically for eukaryotic pathogen detection.

Why the oral cavity: The mouth is one of the primary entry points for eukaryotic organisms into the human body. The oral mucosal environment harbors its own distinct eukaryotic microbiome that is entirely separate from the gut and rarely screened by conventional testing. Certain fungi and protozoa establish persistent colonization in oral tissue, contributing to chronic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and systemic organism burden. The cheek swab also captures host mucosal cell DNA, making it useful as a baseline sample type when combined with other PathOID.ai kits.

Organisms targeted include: Entamoeba gingivalis, Trichomonas tenax, Candida species, Aspergillus species, other opportunistic oral fungi, and hundreds of additional eukaryotic organisms across 33 phyla.

Accepted Sample Type: Buccal cheek swab (home collection kit included)

⚠️ This is not a diagnostic test. The PathOID.ai Human Cheek Swab Parasite Screen is an educational and research tool only. Results do not constitute a medical diagnosis and are not a substitute for professional medical evaluation. If you have concerns about oral health or parasitic infection, consult a licensed physician or dental professional.