Description

The Diagnostic Automation Inc. Giardia ELISA kit is an in vitro immunoassay for the qualitative determination of Giardia antigen in feces. It is a double antibody (sandwich) ELISA using an anti-Giardia antibody to capture the antigen from the stool
supernatant. A second anti-Giardia antibody is then added which sandwiches the captured antigen. This reaction is visualized by the addition of an anti-second antibody conjugated to peroxidase and the chromogen tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). The resulting blue color development indicates the presence of Giardia antigens being bound by the anti-Giardia antibodies.

Diagnostic Automation Giardia lamblia is the protozoan parasite responsible for the disease giardiasis. Symptoms of acute giardiasis include diarrhea, nausea, weight loss, malabsorption, abdominal cramps,
flatulence and anemia. The disease may manifest itself as an acute, chronic or as an asymptomatic infection. Giardiasis is the most prevalent parasitic disease in the United States and is responsible for an
estimated 100 million mild infections and 1 million severe infections each year. The mode of transmission of Giardia is through fecal-oral ingestion of cysts. Epidemics of giardiasis have been documented in day care centers and by drinking contaminated water. Day care centers may be directly or indirectly responsible for 45% of diagnosed Giardia infections in the United States. One study found 54% of the children at a day care center were infected. Another important source of Giardia infection is among homosexual men. Prevalence rates of 5% to 19% for this population have been reported.

Diagnosis of giardiasis has been done through a number of invasive and non-invasive techniques. Of the non-invasive techniques, microscopic examination of stools has been the most common. However, this method relies on an experienced technician and subsequent observation of intact organisms. Because of
the historically low proficiency of correct microscopic examinations and intermittent excretion of organisms, alternative diagnostic methods have been investigated. One important alternative has been the development of an antigen capture enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for use with stools. These tests have shown comparable sensitivity to experienced microscopic examinations, are fairly simple to perform and do not require the observation of intact organisms.