Cryptosporidium Antigen Detection Test

Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite that causes an infection called cryptosporidiosis. It is most commonly found in children aged between 1 and 5 years, but it can affect any age group. Infection may be asymptomatic. Symptoms of cryptosporidiosis may include Diarrhea Abdominal pain, Nausea and vomiting Fever Respiratory problems prolonging from several days to more than a month. The examination of multiple faecal specimens may be required to detect cryptosporidium.

The patient undergoing the treatment should not have used barium products, antacids, antidiarrheal medications or laxatives containing oil prior to collection of a specimen for parasitological exam. The specimen must be passed into a clean dry container and must not be contaminated with urine. Add stool to the 10% formalin and mix the contents thoroughly until homogenous.

Cryptosporidium antigen detection is simple, rapid, reliable, and standardized test is sensitive and specific for routine diagnosis and may be useful for large-scale epidemiological studies of cryptosporidiosis. 10% of AIDS patients have chronic cryptosporidiosis and this figure can be as high as 40% in certain developing countries and an early detection of this disease can be helpful in treatment.

We need to take totally 3 samples (2 for control) and place them in a holder. Add 2 drops of negative control to sample 1 and 2 drops of positive control to sample2. Add 2 drops of the stool supernatant to each test well. Incubate for 30 minutes at room temperature and add 2 drops of Reagent 1 (blue solution) to each sample. Incubate for 5 minutes and add 2 drops of Reagent 2 (red solution) to each sample. Incubate for 5 minutes, then wash. Add 2 drops of Chromogen to each sample. Incubate for 5 minutes and add 2 drops of Stop Solution to each well. Mix samples by gently tapping the side of the strip holder with index finger. Take a reading. Absorbance reading of 0.15 OD units and above indicates the sample contains Cryptosporidium antigen. Absorbance reading less than 0.15 OD units indicates the sample does not contain detectable levels of Cryptosporidium antigen