Evaluation of reliability of pooling stool specimens from different patients and detection of Giardia lamblia antigen by microtiter enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay

Abstract

We have shown that stool samples from different patients can be pooled at a 1:2 dilution and reliably assayed for Giardia lamblia antigen by a commercial microtiter enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system (LMD Laboratories, Inc., Carlsbad, Calif.). Laboratories can reduce reagent costs by pooling specimens submitted for the detection of Giardia antigen by ELISA.