TABLE 1.

Diagnostic options for Cryptosporidium detection in clinical samples

Technique	Advantages	Disadvantages
Acid-fast stain (Ziehl-Neelsen, Kinyoun)	Low cost	Low sensitivity and specificity
Auramine-rhodamine	Rapid screening	Low sensitivity and specificity; high cost (equipment)
EIA	Sensitive (32.9 ng of Cryptosporidium protein [Meridian Diagnostics, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio]); minimal training required	High cost
IFA	Sensitive (100 oocysts/ml [Meridian Diagnostics, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio])	High cost
PCR	Sensitive (1 oocyst) (150); permits genotyping	Nonstandardized methods; high cost; specialized training and equipment required