There is still debate about which algorithm is optimal for laboratory confirmation of Clostridium difficile associated colitis/infection (CDI).
The relatively poor sensitivity of rapid enzyme immunoassay (EIA) toxin tests must be weighed against the delayed turn around time of selective culture and the current high costs of PCR tests for routine screening.
Our current practice is to culture directly liquid or unformed stools from inpatients and nursing home patients or suspected CDI cases from outpatients using CDIF Chrom ID™ media ( bioMérieux). Toxin testing is performed on all positive cultures using an EIA specific for C.difficile toxin A & B (Vidas bioMérieux).
195 samples were tested using the GDH component of the TECHLAB ® C. DIFF QUIK CHEK COMPLETE® directly from the faecal sample and compared to selective media culture. Of these 190 were concordant and results will be detailed.
An ongoing evaluation of the comparative performance of the TECHLAB ® C. DIFF QUIK CHEK COMPLETE® toxin and the C.difficile toxin A & B (Vidas bioMérieux ) on C.difficile isolates will also be presented.