Detection of Clostridium difficile toxin: comparison of enzyme immunoassay results with results obtained by cytotoxicity assay.
Several kinds of laboratory techniques are available to detect Clostridium difficile toxin in fecal samples. Because questions have been raised about the reliability of immunoassays compared to the accepted standard, cytotoxicity assay, we studied three enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) and one rapid EIA, which demonstrated relatively good sensitivities and specificities compared to cytotoxicity assay.
Musher
Daniel M
DM
Medical Service (Infectious Disease Section), Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. daniel.musher@med.va.gov
Manhas
Atisha
A
Jain
Pranav
P
Nuila
Franziska
F
Waqar
Amna
A
Logan
Nancy
N
Marino
Bernard
B
Graviss
Edward A
EA
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000032:analysis*; D002470:Cell Survival; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; C041348:tcdA protein, Clostridium difficile; C031815:toxB protein, Clostridium difficile