Guidelines
Clostridium difficile Testing

Clostridium difficile Testing

C. difficile Testing Background

As of September 2016 the microbiology lab will abandon routine Clostridium difficile PCR testing and adopt the C. diff Quik Chek Complete® EIA test

The C. diff Quik Chek Complete® EIA test utilizes antibodies to detect glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) (also known as the antigen common to both toxigenic and non-toxigenic C. diff) and Toxins A/B

C. diff Quik Chek Complete® EIA Test

GDH or Ag will be positive if C. diff (toxigenic or non-toxigenic) is present

Toxin A/B will be positive when toxigenic C. diff is actively producing toxin

General Interpretation of Results:

  • Ag(+)/Toxin(+) = C. difficile Infection
  • Ag(-)/Toxin(-) = Absence of C. difficile Infection
  • Ag(+)/Toxin(-) = C. difficile carrier status
    • Ag(+)/Toxin(-) specimens will be held by microlab for 48hrs should a provider wish to call and request a PCR test
  • Sensitivity: 90.5%
  • Specificity: 93.1%
  • NPV: 97.6%
  • Sensitivity: 87.8%
  • Specificity: 99.4%
  • NPV: 98.1%