Fast and Simple C. difficile Toxin A/B Test

The cytotoxicity assay commonly used to detect C. difficile toxins A and/or B requires specialized facilities and is labor and time intensive, needing as much as 48 to 72 hours for results. Genzyme Diagnostics’ new OSOM® C. difficile Toxin A/B Test is able to detect the presence of these toxins in stool samples within 20 minutes and by using four easy to follow steps. This quick detection aides clinicians in the rapid diagnosis and treatment of the infection.

In recent years, incidences of Clostridium difficile, a sporeforming bacterium that can cause gastrointestinal infections ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon, have become more and more frequent. Some regions in Europe and North America have even been experiencing alarming outbreaks associated with higher than expected morbidity and mortality rates.