ViroStat, Portland, Maine, has released new monoclonal antibody pairs to Clostridium difficile glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), an enzyme produced and released during growth of the Clostridium difficile bacterium. Validated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the monoclonal antibodies represent a new set of tools for rapid detection of the pathogen.
Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea is the leading cause of nosocomial diarrhea. The spread of this bacterium is difficult to control due to its resistant spores that survive on many surfaces, so rapid detection is crucial to its control. Most rapid tests target the toxins (A and B) produced during the infection. GDH is another diagnostic target.
Studies have shown that adding GDH detection together with toxin detection significantly improves assay specificity.
For more information, visit ViroStat.
