Procedures for testing the viability of human hydatid cysts following surgical removal, especially after chemotherapy.

The basic problems involved in assessing the viability of hydatid material following surgical removal from human cases are outlined and the use of enzyme digestion techniques is shown to provide a rapid and relatively simple diagnostic procedure. The method is described in detail and examples of its practicability are cited. Infection in laboratory animals provides a back-up diagnostic procedure but cyst development in them is too slow to be of value for most clinical work.