Evaluation of the Triage Micro Parasite Panel for detection of Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar, and Cryptosporidium parvum inpatient stool specimens

A study comparing the Triage Micro Parasite Panel (Biosite Diagnostics, Inn ., San Diego, Calif,) to conventional O&P examination (O&P) was performed u sing patient fetal specimens. Five hundred twenty-three stool samples were compared. Nineteen specimens were found to be positive by Triage, and 29 we re found to be positive by O&P, Seven specimens were positive for Giardia l amblia, four were positive for Entamocba histolytica/E. dispar, and three w ere positive for Cryptosporidium parvum as determined by both methods. Ther e was one false positive by Triage (C. parvum) and four false negatives by O&P (two G. lamblia, one E, histolytica/E. dispar, and one C. parvum). The Triage test accurately detected all 18 specimens that contained one of the three organisms that it was designed to detect. The Triage test is a rapid, easy-to-use enzyme immunoassay for the detection of G. lamblia, E. histoly tica/E. dispar, and C, parvum in fresh or fresh-frozen fecal specimens. The se data suggest that the Triage test can be used as a screen for the immedi ate testing of stool specimens for these three pathogenic parasites. If Tri age test results are negative, O&P can be performed if parasitic infections other than G. lamblia, E, histolytica/E, dispar, or C. parvum are suspecte d.