Abstract
An immunoassay for the detection of Clostridium difficile toxin A in stool samples (Clearview C. DIFF A; Unipath, UK) was evaluated against the cell cytotoxicity assay using 407 stool samples from patients suspected to have, or considered at risk of, antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. Of the samples tested, 98 were positive and 280 were negative by both tests (sensitivity 83.1%, specificity 96.9%). Following resolution of the 29 discrepant results, the sensitivity and specificity of the immunoassay were 91% and 98%, respectively, and the sensitivity for the cell cytotoxicity assay was calculated as 91.5%, with a specificity of 99%. The Clearview C. DIFF A test proved to be a rapid simple assay for the detection of Clostridium difficile toxin A in stool samples. The test was equally suited to single or batch testing, required minimal sample handling, and provided results within 30 min of applying the sample to the test unit.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bentley, A., Patel, N., Sidorczuk, M. et al. Multicentre Evaluation of a Commercial Test for the Rapid Diagnosis of Clostridium difficile-Mediated Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhoea. EJCMID 17, 788–790 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s100960050187
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s100960050187