title: Comparative Evaluation of Three Methods (Microscopic Examination, Direct Fluorescent Antibody Assay, and Immunochromatographic Method) for the Diagnosis of Giardia intestinalis From Stool Specimens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare direct microscopic examination, direct fluorescent antibody assay (DFA), and the immunochromatographic method (IK) and identify the best suitable method for the diagnosis of Giardia intestinalis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 25 stool samples that had been diagnosed as being infected with G. intestinalis using the native-Lugol and/or formol-ethyl acetate concentration method and 25 non-parasite-infected samples (the control group) were examined. After microscopic examination of stools, they were kept at -20°C for examination using DFA and IK. Stool samples were studied using DFA (CeLLabs, Crypto/Giardia-Cel IF) and IK (RIDA QUICK, Cryptosporidium/Giardia Combi Dipstick), as per the manufacturers' instructions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our study, using the DFA method, parasites were detected in all 25 stool samples in which G. intestinalis was diagnosed by direct microscopic examination. Using the IK method, a particular band indicative of the parasite was detected in 24 samples. No parasites were detected in all 25 samples in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thus, when direct microscopic examination is taken as reference, the senstivity and specificity of DFA for the diagnosis of G. intestinalis were found to be 100% each, while those of IK were found to be 96% and 100%, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Adnan Menderes Üniversitesi, Parazitoloji Anabilim Dalı, Aydın, Türkiye. drsenem@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Senem Yaman
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Karadam
authors.forename: Sema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ertuğ
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ertabaklar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult