Giardia Antigen Test Card (Colloidal Gold Method)

Target and Hazard: Giardia duodenalis (also known as Giardia intestinalis) is a zoonotic intestinal protozoan whose hosts include dogs, cats, cattle, sheep and humans. It is shed in faeces as cysts that contaminate water, feed and bedding, and spreads mainly by the faecal-oral route. Infected animals develop acute or chronic diarrhoea, steatorrhoea, weight loss and stunted growth, with more severe disease in young dogs and cats; infection often coexists with asymptomatic carriage. It is a common cause of diarrhoea in dogs, cats and calves and has public-health significance.

Significance of Testing: The card detects Giardia antigen directly in faeces for rapid aetiological confirmation in diarrhoea cases and screening of carrier animals, distinguishing it from other diarrhoeal pathogens such as canine parvovirus and coronavirus. It supports symptomatic treatment, isolation and hygiene/disinfection biosecurity measures, and is particularly useful for on-site rapid investigation of diarrhoea outbreaks in young animals.

Principle: Colloidal gold lateral flow immunoassay (double-antibody sandwich): the test line (T) is coated with Giardia antigen-specific monoclonal antibody; antigen in the sample binds to gold-labelled antibody, migrates along the membrane and is captured at the T line, producing a visible line. The control line (C) confirms reagent and procedure validity.

Performance and Applications: No equipment required; fresh or refrigerated faecal samples; visual reading in 10–15 minutes; store at 2–30 °C in a cool, dry place, shelf life 24 months. For point-of-care testing of diarrhoeal pathogens in veterinary clinics, kennels and catteries, dairy farms and primary veterinary stations. Method: colloidal gold lateral flow immunoassay (double-antibody sandwich) | Samples: fresh or refrigerated faeces | Time to result: 10–15 min | Reading: visual assessment of T/C lines — a coloured T line indicates a positive result, C line is the procedural control | Format: tests/box (as stated on the label) | Storage: 2–30 °C, cool and dry; shelf life 24 months | Note: sensitivity, specificity, limit of detection, intra-/inter-assay CV and agreement with reference methods are subject to our internal QC report.