Strand E A, Robertson L J, Hanevik K, Alvsvåg J O, Mørch K, Langeland N
Unit for Infectious Diseases and Parasitology, Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
Clin Microbiol Infect. 2008 Nov;14(11):1069-71. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2008.02078.x. Epub 2008 Sep 18.
The utility of a rapid antigen test for diagnosing cases of persistent giardiasis, as defined by detection of cysts by conventional microscopy following standard formalin-ether concentration or the positive rapid antigen test, was investigated following a large, waterborne outbreak of giardiasis. The sensitivity and specificity of the rapid test as compared with microscopy were 60.7% and 96.7%, respectively, in this patient group. The low sensitivity contrasts with previous reports, and may be partly explained by low cyst numbers.
