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Comparative Study
. 1994 Jan;32(1):51-3.
doi: 10.1128/jcm.32.1.51-53.1994.

Comparison of two commercially available enzyme immunoassays for detection of Clostridium difficile in stool specimens

S S Altaie  1 , P Meyer, D Dryja
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Comparison of two commercially available enzyme immunoassays for detection of Clostridium difficile in stool specimens

S S Altaie et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1994 Jan.

Erratum in

  • J Clin Microbiol 1994 Jun;32(6):1623

Abstract

Clostridium difficile is the cause of most cases of pseudomembranous colitis, the most severe form of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Rapid diagnosis guides both the treatment and the control of nosocomial spread of infection. Two enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kits developed for the rapid detection of C. difficile toxin A in fecal specimens, Premier (Meridian Diagnostics, Cincinnati, Ohio) and Tox-A test (TechLab, Virginia Polytechnic Institute Research Park, Blacksburg), were evaluated by using 410 fecal specimens. Seventy-six specimens were positive for C. difficile toxin B by the cytotoxin assay (prevalence rate, 19%). The Meridian EIA was positive for 71 of the 76 samples, yielding a sensitivity of 93%. The TechLab EIA detected 75 of the 76 positive samples, yielding a sensitivity of 99%. The Meridian and TechLab EIAs had specificities of 100 and 93%, respectively. These data indicate that both EIAs are suitable alternatives to the cytotoxin assay in routine diagnostic laboratories. However, confirmation of TechLab EIA-positive test results by the cytotoxin assay remains necessary.

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Comment in

  • Tox-A Test for Clostridium difficile.
    Wilkins TD, Lyerly DM. Wilkins TD, et al. J Clin Microbiol. 1994 Sep;32(9):2338. doi: 10.1128/jcm.32.9.2338-.1994. J Clin Microbiol. 1994. PMID: 7695729 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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