GI and IAB

Question 1

Stool Test

Answer 1

Advantage: most sensitive
Disadvantage:slow turnaround (2-4d) and possible false positives

Question 2

PCR for toxin A and B

Answer 2

Advantage: rapid and sensitive
Disadvantage: expensive

Question 3

Latex agglutination to detect antigen in stools

Answer 3

Advantage: rapid, inexpensive, specific (94-98%)
Disadvantage: low sensitivity and no info on toxigenicity

Question 4

ELISA

Answer 4

Advantage: rapid, easy, and cheap
Disadvantage: low sensitivity and specificity; suboptimal for diagnosis

Question 5

Endoscopy

Answer 5

Advantage: rapid diagnosis and ileus present
Disadvantage: very low sensitivity and specificity

Question 6

Tissue culture assay for cytotoxicity for TOXIN B

Answer 6

Advantage: more sensitive than ELISA
Disadvantage: turn around time (1-2 days)