COMPARISON OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT PANNING TECHNIQUES FOR CLARIFICATION OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM-PARVUM FROM AQUEOUS SAMPLES

'Panning', a technique developed to separate cells into subpopulations , was evaluated for its potential in recovering Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts from aqueous samples during the clarification stage. Oocysts adhered to the 'pan' by binding to specific anti-oocyst antibody. The sample was clarified by washing off non-adherent debris. Direct and in direct 'panning' trials were conducted. The oocyst recovery rate was a pproximately 50% for direct panning and 20% for indirect panning. Dire ct panning resulted in a higher degree of reliability compared with in direct panning. This technique has the potential to be combined with e xisting or alternative methodologies as a means to clarify oocysts, to allow for a higher degree of oocyst recovery.