Table 4. Comparison of microscopic examination and multiplex qPCR in terms of detection of the major parasites causing gastroenteritis, in stool samples from patients with diarrhea.
| Final identification | No. of specimens | Microscopy | Multiple qPCR | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Correct ID | Incorrect ID | Correct ID | Incorrect ID | ||
| Blastocystis hominis | 8 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Clonorchis sinensis | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Entamoeba histolytica a | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Giardia lamblia a | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Gymnophalloides seoi a | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Negative for parasites | 106 | 106 | 0 | 106 | 0 |
| Total No. (%) | 123 | 111 (90.2) | 12 (9.8) | 123 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) |
a The six positive controls include 2 of Entamoeba histolytica, 2 of Giardia lamblia, and 2 of Gymnophalloides seoi.
Abbreviations: ID, identification.