Evaluation of immunochromatographic assay in diagnosis of Giardia lamblia infection in comparison to Microscopy

Abstract

Background: Giardia is recognized internationally as a most important etiology of persistent and chronic diarrhea especially in children with significant morbidity and mortality rates . Hence, rapid diagnosis is essential Objectives: To assess the diagnostic performance of Rida®Quick Giardia dipstick versus microscopy Patients and Methods: A hundred fecal samples were collected from one hundred patients complaining of chronic diarrhea. All samples were investigated by Rida®Quick Giardia dipstick for coproa-antigen detection, and microscopically using concentration techniques Results: The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of Rida®Quick Giardia dipstick were 81.3%,96.3 %,95.1 % and84.9 respectively. There is no cross-reactivity with other intestinal parasites. Rida®Quick Giardia dipstick provide adequate sensitivity and specificity and give rapid results. Conclusion: Rida®Quick Giardia is simple, rapid and has good sensitivity and specificity. Moreover, it does not require experienced personnel or special technical equipments. So, it can be used as an test in specific substitutional situations where the microscopic diagnosis of Giardia is limited due to time constraints, lack of microscopy experts, unavailability of appropriate equipments or when examining large populations as in outbreaks and epidemiological surveys

Keywords

• giardia lamblia immunochromatographic assay microscopy