Diagnosis: Stool Tests
There are many tests for toxins present in the stool, and a few of them are listed below:
Enzyme immunoassay: This method might be faster than most others, but it can barely account for all the infectious bacteria present in the stool if applied as the only test. This is the reason it is often done in combination with other test methods (especially with the glutamate dehydrogenase test). Another problem this method poses is the problem of giving a normal result, which is often untrue.
Polymerase chain reaction: Using the polymerase chain reaction gives far better results than the enzyme immunoassay, considering that it is highly sensitive and accurate in detecting C. Difficile toxin genes in the stool sample.
Cell cytotoxicity assay: This test is often employed in research experiments, but is a very sensitive method of determining the effects of the C. Difficile bacteria on human cells grown in a culture. [2]
