EVALUATION OF A COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE ELISA FOR DETECTION OF GIARDIA-LAMBLIA ANTIGEN IN FECES - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS IN UNCONVENTIONAL SAMPLES

The sensitivity and specificity of a commercial ELISA for the diagnosi s of G. lamblia were assessed on a series of 52 formalin-ether concent rated, unrefrigerated faecal samples after prolonged storage. Before s torage the CELISA did not perfectly accord with microscopy. All the 30 microscopically positive samples scored highly positive on ELISA afte r storage, including 2 samples that had given a false negative result when examined soon after collection. There was no false positive ELISA . The sensivity of the test therefore seems to be enhanced by storage at room temperature without any corresponding fall in specificity.