Recommended Supplies for ruminant & Equine courses
Additional Notes & Shopping List
A recent class asked me to share an Amazon shopping list with the items I personally use for fecal egg counts.
A few quick notes:
Check my notes next to each item — I’ve included tips, alternate sources, and pricing info.
Adjust items like glove size or pack quantity to fit your needs.
The list is just a guide — you don’t need to buy everything, and you’re welcome to shop elsewhere for the best price or bulk options.
These are affiliate links, so I earn a small commission if you purchase through them, but I encourage you to shop around for the best price, packaging size, or brand that fits your needs.
Additional Notes:
McMaster slides: Any replacement should have a volume of 0.15 mL under each grid for accurate EPG calculations.
Already have supplies? Perfect — just ensure they’re clean and suitable for fecal work.
Questions about an item? Check the notes next to it first, then send an email or post in the community space if you need more guidance.
Consistency Matters:
Once you’ve chosen your set of materials, try to stay consistent with them. Changing things like strainer type, McMaster slide design, or flotation solution type can alter your results. Using the same materials and setup each time helps ensure your fecal egg counts are accurate, repeatable, and comparable over time.
Reminder:
Don’t forget to check back in the Materials Checklist on the course website to see other rinse-and-reuse options for some of these supplies. This can help you reduce waste and save money while still keeping your setup consistent and accurate.
Amazon FEC Supplies Table
| Item | Description / Notes | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Exam Gloves | Powder-free nitrile gloves for handling fecal samples. Please pick the right size for you. 100 gloves will last about 50 uses. | View on Amazon |
| Lubricant | Optional water-based lubricant if you plan to take samples rectally from small ruminants. Small amount is sufficient. | View on Amazon |
| Weighing Scale | Compact digital pocket scale with 0.1 g increments for weighing fecal samples. The scale does not need to be fancy. | View on Amazon |
| Cups | Small plastic cups for mixing fecal samples. Ribs on the sides help mash pellets. Reusable or disposable for ~25 samples. | View on Amazon |
| Fecal Flotation Solution | Liquid Feca-Med solution (saturated salt) used to float parasite eggs. One bottle lasts ~135 samples; can be sourced cheaper elsewhere. | View on Amazon |
| Liquid Measuring Tool in mL | Plastic 30 mL syringes for measuring flotation solution. Reusable by rinsing between uses. | View on Amazon |
| Mixing Tool | Wooden tongue depressors for mixing fecal samples with flotation solution. Durable for ~500 samples; other brands available. | View on Amazon |
| Strainer | Gauze used to separate debris while letting eggs pass through. Lasts ~200 samples. | View on Amazon |
| 2-Chamber McMaster Slide | Standard 2-Chamber McMaster slide for fecal egg counts (4 count); volume under each chamber grid should hold 0.15 mL solution. Can purchase individual slides on vetslides.com. Reusable with proper care. | View on Amazon |
| Tool to Fill Slide | Plastic transfer pipette to fill McMaster chambers. Durable for ~500 samples; other sizes/brands work too. | View on Amazon |
| Microscope | Compound microscope for reading McMaster slides. Many options available; this is only one example. | View on Amazon |
| Hand Counter | Manual tally counter to help track egg counts, optional if you prefer not to count in your head. | View on Amazon |

