Sensitivity of a Giardia antigen test in persistent giardiasis following an extensive outbreak.
The utility of a rapid antigen test for diagnosing cases of persistent giardiasis, as defined by detection of cysts by conventional microscopy following standard formalin-ether concentration or the positive rapid antigen test, was investigated following a large, waterborne outbreak of giardiasis. The sensitivity and specificity of the rapid test as compared with microscopy were 60.7% and 96.7%, respectively, in this patient group. The low sensitivity contrasts with previous reports, and may be partly explained by low cyst numbers.
Strand
E A
EA
Unit for Infectious Diseases and Parasitology, Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. elisabeth.strand@ahus.no
Robertson
L J
LJ
Hanevik
K
K
Alvsvåg
J O
JO
Mørch
K
K
Langeland
N
N
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005872:Giardia / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D008853:Microscopy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan