title: Evaluation of a commercially available ELISA assay for detection of Giardia lamblia in fecal specimens.
abstract: A total of 417 fecal samples preserved in 10% buffered formalin and PVA were submitted to a commercial microbiology laboratory only for the detection of Giardia lamblia. Results from fecal specimens collected from 411 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms were compared using the following methods: (a) standard Ova & Parasite (O&P) concentration; (b) Alexon's ProspecT/Giardia enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test, and (c) Meridian's Direct Fluorescent Antibody (DFA) Stain. In the 29 specimens in which G. lamblia was detected, 10 were O&P, DFA and ELISA positive, 17 were only ELISA positive and two were only Ova & Parasite and Direct Fluorescent Antibody positive. Of the 29 positive specimens, 22 were confirmed as true positives. The ELISA sensitivity was 91% and the specificity was 98%. The expense associated with these methods to detect the presence of Giardia is $11.00, $8.95, and $12.80, respectively. In symptomatic patients, the ProspecT/Giardia ELISA is a cost-effective, rapid, and sensitive method for detecting the presence of G. lamblia in fecal specimens.
authors.affiliation: Associated Regional and University Pathologists, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, USA.
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Aldeen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hale
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Robison
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Carroll
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000191:economics; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D010274:Parasitology / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity