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Rapid detection of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> from Inverness Medical

Abbott
2 Jul 2008

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In UK news this week, the water borne parasite Cryptosporidium spp. has been found in the local water supply of the Northampton and Daventry area, affecting approximately 250,000 people. Cryptosporidium infection causes cryptosporidiosis, characterised by cholera-like diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. GPs and A&E staff from the affected area have been asked to stay vigilant for signs of cryptosporidiosis. Rapid detection is vital for identifying infection in anyone presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms. Inverness Medical provides three rapid solutions for the detection of Cryptosporidium oocyst antigen: TECHLAB® CRYPTOSPORIDIUM II; TECHLAB® GIARDIA/CRYPTOSPORIDIUM CHEK®; and the Biosite Triage® Parasitology Panel.

Although contamination of drinking water with Cryptosporidium is uncommon, it has the potential to affect a large number of people. Those particularly at risk of infection are the very young, the elderly, and the immuno-compromised. Providing rapid, time saving devices to aid in the diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis, Inverness Medical offers the TECHLAB®CRYPTOSPORIDIUM II and TECHLAB®GIARDIA/CRYPTOSPORIDIUM CHEK® ELISA products. Both tests provide clear qualitative results in less than two hours from patient faecal samples. TECHLAB®GIARDIA/CRYPTOSPORIDIUM CHEK® additionally detects Giardia cyst antigen.

Also from Inverness Medical is the Biosite Triage® Parasite Panel, an EIA for the detection of antigens specific for Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, and Cryptosporidium parvum. Used as an aid in the diagnosis of intestinal parasitic disease, the Triage Parasite Panel provides rapid results in 15 minutes and is suitable for point of care settings.

In 1993 the largest water borne disease outbreak in the USA occurred in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when one of the two city water plants was contaminated with Cryptosporidium. The outbreak resulted in 403,000 residents becoming ill with gastrointestinal symptoms, with approximately 100 deaths during the outbreak, mostly among the elderly and immuno-compromised patients.

This week in the UK, the affected water treatment plants in the Northampton area are currently being treated with ultra-violet light to deactivate the parasite and render it harmless. Residents however are being advised to boil all water for drinking and food preparation, with anyone concerned about their health to contact their GP or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

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ELISAEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), also known as enzyme immunoassays (EIA), are used for the detection and quantification of proteins, peptides and antibodies in a sample. ELISA often comes in kit format, with pre-selected antibody pairs to detect specific proteins or biomarkers of diseases such as diabetes and obesity, or cardiovascular and neurological disorders. Detection is made possible with chemiluminescent, fluorescent or colorimetric substrates and detection instruments such as microplate / ELISA readers. Other kits available include: Enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assays for the quantification of protein-producing cells and chemiluminescent immunoassays (CLIA) kits. Find the best ELISA kits and products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.MicrobiologyMicrobiology is the study of microorganisms including protists, prokaryotes, fungi, and, often, viruses. Microorganisms are a useful research tool as genetic vectors and, in immunology, for antibiotic susceptibility testing, cellular biology and genetics. Microorganisms commonly grow readily in incubators with microbial culture media; this can contain chromogenic supplements to differentiate between cell lines. Estimate your culture’s density of microorganisms with colony counters, or screen and select colonies for desirable clones with automated colony pickers. Additionally, equipment is available to monitor environments for the presence of microbes and identify with microbial identification instruments. Find the best microbiology products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Point-of-CarePoint-of-Care Testing (POCT) or Near Patient Testing (NPT) products are available for urine, blood and other clinical chemistry analyses. POCT includes: blood glucose testing, blood gas and electrolytes analysis, rapid coagulation testing (PT / INR), rapid cardiac markers diagnostics, drugs of abuse screening, urine strips testing, pregnancy testing, fecal occult blood analysis, food pathogens screening, hemoglobin diagnostics, infectious disease testing and cholesterol screening.

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Rapid detection of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> from Inverness Medical