Annals of Clinical Microbiology, The official Journal of the Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology
Sue Jung Kim1, Heejung Kim1, Myung Sook Kim1, Eunmi Koh1, Chang-Ki Kim2, Seok Hoon Jeong1, Yunsop Chong1, Kyungwon Lee1
1Department of Laboratory Medicine and Research Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Yonsei University College of Medicine; 2Korean Institute of Tuberculosis, Seoul, Korea
Corresponding to Kyungwon Lee, E-mail: leekcp@yuhs.ac
Ann Clin Microbiol 2008;11(2):112-116.
Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology.
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. (Korean J Clin Microbiol 2008;11:112-116)
Clostridium difficile, Enzyme immunoassay, Clostridium difficile Toxin A, Clostridium difficile Toxin B