The Lice Identification Test (LIT) is a handy and reliable way of identifying lice in the scalp.

It can be especially useful to answer three common questions:
1) Does my child actually have head lice?
2) For a child who had a lice treatment recently: Does my child still have head lice?
3) For a child being treated now: Is my child now cured… is it safe to stop weekly treatment?

You perform an LIT by taking all the lotion you comb out during the Nuvo method treatment and putting this lotion on a pale or white hand towel. (In our office we use disposable absorbent pads similar to puppy pads.) Once the lotion is absorbed by the towel, you look for lice on top of the towel. A bright light and magnification can make this job easier.

You must be careful to be sure that your identification is correct. You must find actual baby, teenage, or adult lice. Finding nits (louse eggs) does not count. These photos may help you identify real lice and nits.

Louse egg (nit) attached to a hair shaft.

First stage instar (baby head louse).

Second stage instar (teenager head louse).

Adult head louse (aged 11 – 35 days).

Be careful! Frequently you will find small objects on the towel which are not lice. Kids’ hair often contains miscellaneous objects such as grass, small pieces of leaves, bits of paper, flakes of scalp scale, and little chunks of dirt. You must distinguish between these “fakes” and real lice.

In his office Dr. Pearlman has learned that if two LITs, done one week apart, show no lice, then there is no active lice infestation.

Recommended Supplies:

Check out our online store for a cost-effective, convenient way to order the supplies needed for the Nuvo Method treatment of head lice.

Advertisement