Table 2.
Performances of the multiplex PCR assays compared to microscopy on 93 positive samples analysed routinely na: not applicable; nd: not determined.
| Sensitivity n/N (%) |
Specificity n/N (%) |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BD MaxTM | G-DiaParaTM | RIDA®GENE | BD MaxTM | G-DiaParaTM | RIDA®GENE | |
| G. intestinalis | 39/44 (89%) | 28/44 (64%) | 18/44 (41%) | 20/21 (95%) | 20/21 (95%) | 48/49 (98%) |
| Cryptosporidium sp. | 6/11 (55%) | 8/11 (73%) | 11/11 (100%) | 54/54 (100%) | 54/54 (100%) | 82/82 (100%) |
| C. parvum/hominis | 6/8 (75%) | 8/8 (100%) | 8/8 (100%) | na | na | na |
| D. fragilis | na | na | 20/28 (71%) | na | na | 63/65 (97%) |
| E. histolytica/dispar | nd1 | nd1 | nd1 | nd1 | nd1 | nd1 |
1
As microscopy does not enable species identification, sensitivity and specificity could not be determined for E. histolytica detection. However, concordant positive results were obtained with the 3 PCR assays for 1 sample.