This study was performed to detect the effective laboratory method for diagnosis of Cryptosporidium spp. in patients attending the laboratories of Al-Tameem General Hospital and Kirkuk Paediatric Hospital in Kirkuk city, for the period from the beginning of January to end of August 2000.. 

It was shown that the modified Ziehl-Neelsens stain (hot method) with methylene blue (counter stain) was most efficient in identification of Cryptosporidium oocysts (4.36%), followed by malachite green (counter stain) (1.94%) and modified Ziehl-Neelsen (cold method) with malachite green (counter stain), safranin methylene blue, lugol s iodine preparation (mounting) (0.97%) for each and the modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain (cold method) with methylene blue (counter stain) was the least efficient (0.84%). .