Korean J Clin Microbiol.  2008 Oct;11(2):112-116. 10.5145/KJCM.2008.11.2.112.

Evaluation of Rapid Assay (Tox A/B Quik Chek) for the Detection of Clostridium difficile Toxins A and B

• Kim SJ
• Kim H
• Kim MS
• Koh E
• Kim CK
• Jeong SH
• Chong Y
• Lee K

• KMID: 1480978
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5145/KJCM.2008.11.2.112

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Toxin immunoassay is widely used for rapid diagnosis of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of Tox A/B Quik Chek test (TECHLAB, Blacksburg, VA, USA) compared to toxigenic culture.
METHODS
From September 2006 to August 2007, 959 stools were examined by Tox A/B Quik Chek test and toxigenic culture (C. difficile culture plus tcdB PCR using colonies obtained from culture).
RESULTS
Compared to the results of toxigenic culture, the sensitivity and specificity of Tox A/B Quik Chek test were 47.5% and 97.5%, respectively.
CONCLUSION
The sensitivity of Tox A/B Quik Chek test was not high, but the specificity was high. Although Tox A/B Quik Chek test alone is not sufficient to diagnose Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, it may aid rapid diagnosis, early treatment and prevention of nosocomial spread of the infection, if supplemented by C. difficile culture or tissue culture cytotoxin assay.

Keyword

Clostridium difficile; Enzyme immunoassay; Clostridium difficile Toxin A; Clostridium difficile Toxin B

MeSH Terms

Bacterial Proteins
Bacterial Toxins
Boron Compounds
Clostridium
Clostridium difficile
Diarrhea
Early Diagnosis
Enterotoxins
Immunoassay
Immunoenzyme Techniques
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Sensitivity and Specificity
Bacterial Proteins
Bacterial Toxins
Boron Compounds
Enterotoxins

Reference

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