COMPARISON OF TECHNIQUES FOR DETECTING ANTIGENS OF GIARDIA-LAMBLIA AND CRYPTOSPORIDIUM-PARVUM IN FECES

Aim-To compare the use of commercial monoclonal antibody test systems- the Giardia CEL IF test and the Crypto CEL IF test-for the detection o f Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum antigens in faeces with c onventional techniques. Methods-Sensitivity and specificity were evalu ated using preparations of cysts of G lamblia and purified oocysts of C parvum. Evaluation of 59 random faecal samples passing through the D epartment of Clinical Parasitology, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Lo ndon, was carried out for both organisms. Results-The fluorescence sta ining techniques proved more sensitive than other tests routinely used for diagnosis.