Several techniques and kits, including those described in Table 3, are available to detect parasitic antigens in stool specimens.
Table 3. Techniques for Parasitic Antigen Detection.Antigen Detection Method | A Few Examples of Organisms Diagnosed |
Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) | Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia sp., Entamoeba histolytica/ Entamoeba dispar group |
Direct Fluorescent Antibody (DFA) | Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia sp. |
Rapid antigen test | Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia sp., Entamoeba histolytica /Entamoeba dispar group) |
Whereas detection of parasite antigens in the stool is commonly done, antibody detection from blood (serodiagnosis) is not as widely performed, especially for parasites in the stool. Antibody detection is frequently done for other parasites such as Toxoplasma (found in tissues).