Commercial latex test for Clostridium difficile toxin A does not detect toxin A

Abstract

The rapid latex test recently marketed by Marion Scientific (Div. Marion Laboratories, Inc., Kansas City, Mo.) for the detection of Clostridium difficile toxin A does not react with the toxin, based on the following findings: (i) culture filtrates from nontoxigenic strains of C. difficile gave positive reactions in the test, (ii) culture filtrate in which toxin A had been removed gave positive reactions, (iii) purified toxin A did not react in the test, and (iv) the latex reagent bound an antigen which is distinct from toxin A and which is produced in various amounts by both toxigenic and nontoxigenic strains of C. difficile.