Diagnostic testing for Giardia infections.
The traditional method for diagnosing Giardia infections involves microscopic examination of faecal specimens for Giardia cysts. This method is subjective and relies on observer experience. From the 1980s onwards, objective techniques have been developed for diagnosing Giardia infections, and are superseding diagnostic techniques reliant on microscopy. Detection of Giardia antigen(s) by immunoassay is the basis of commercially available diagnostic kits. Various nucleic acid amplification techniques (NAATs) can demonstrate DNA of Giardia intestinalis, and have the potential to become standard approaches for diagnosing Giardia infections. Of such techniques, methods involving either fluorescent microspheres (Luminex) or isothermal amplification of DNA (loop-mediated isothermal amplification; LAMP) are especially promising.
Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104 and Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Martin F
MF
Heyworth
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D005872:Giardia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000379:methods; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
Diagnostic testing; Giardia intestinalis