How are head lice detected?
Living lice or viable nits/eggs are visible to the eye or with the use of a magnifying glass. Although nits/eggs are generally easier to detect than lice, they can be confused with specks of dandruff, skin debris, or hair product residue. This mistake can be avoided by testing the adhesiveness of the specks to the hair shaft. Unlike other substances, nits/eggs cannot be removed easily with fingernails or by washing the hair. It’s important to be aware that the mere presence of nits/eggs in the hair does not necessarily indicate current head lice infestation.
