Table 3.

Comparison of diagnostic techniques for identification of Blastocystis^*

Diagnostic method	Permanent stain	MBD culture	TYGM-9 culture	PCR 1	PCR 2
No. positive for Blastocystis	47	81	80	65	92

^*MBD = modified Boeck and Drbohlav's medium; TYGM-9 = tryptone, yeast extract, glucose, methionine 9 medium; PCR = polymerase chain reaction.