These parasites have a large animal reservoir and infection is largely through consumption of contaminated water. Asymptomatic carriage can also occur. Infection with Cryptosporidium has been associated with large outbreaks in Ireland.
Although the illness is usually self limiting it can be more severe in immunosuppressed individuals leading to chronic diarrhoea and malabsorption. Molecular testing offers an alternative to traditional diagnosis based on microscopy.
The most common symptom of Cryptosporidium is watery diarrhoea but other symptoms include abdominal pain, loss of appetite, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Symptoms generally begin 2 to 10 days after exposure and usually last about 1 to 2 weeks in immunocompetent people but there may be an occasional reoccurrence of symptoms which may come and go for up to 30 days. Individuals remain infectious for as long as visible oocytes are excreted in stool and certainly while diarrhoea is present. Generally, the infectivity period lasts for between 2 and 4 weeks but shedding may continue for up to 2 months after symptoms subside.
Loose/liquid human faecal sample.
The test for Cryptosporidium offered by Enfer Medical is carried out by real-time multiplexed PCR, as part of an extended gastrointestinal panel. The test is CE-IVD certified.
| Bacteria | Viruses | Parasites |
| Campylobacter | Adenovirus F40/41 | Cryptosporidium |
| Clostridium difficile toxin A/B | Astrovirus | Cyclospora cayetanensis |
| Plesiomonas shigelloides | Rotavirus A | Entamoeba histolytica |
| Salmonella | Novovirus GI/GII | Giardia lamblia |
| Vibrio | Sapovirus (Genogroups I, II, IV and V) | |
| Yersinia enterocolitica | ||
| Escherichia coli/Shigella |
For clients using the Enfer Medical Client Portal, the Enfer Medical Patient Request Form (PRF) will be generated when you have completed your “Test Request” within the portal linked below.
Please note that samples suspected of containing high risk pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis should be clearly identified on the form and packed separately from other samples.
Results are available next working day.
This assay is available seven days a week.
The packaging/preparation of samples for delivery to the laboratory are required to be in adherence to all national regulations for the safe transport of biological materials. HSE guidance can be reviewed HERE.
There are specific packaging instructions and labelling requirements requiring triple packaging including:
Further information on the packaging/preparation of samples for delivery to the laboratory is contained within the Enfer Medical Laboratory User Manual which clients are provided with.
Samples must be tested within 4 hours of collection if stored at room temperature. Samples must be tested within 4 days of collection if stored at 2-8°C
In addition to the packaging of samples, the transport/delivery of clinical samples to the laboratory is required to be in adherence to all national regulations for the safe transport of biological materials. Enfer Medical provides a fully compliant logistics service, aligned with clients’ testing requirements.
Prompt transport of specimens:
To ensure prompt testing of samples and release of results within the published test turnaround times, samples should arrive to the laboratory by 18:00. Test turnaround time is measured from receipt of the sample at the laboratory until the time the authorised results are reported to users.
In rare cases specimens may not be suitable for testing on arrival to the laboratory. In that case the sample will be rejected at the receipt stage and the service user will be notified immediately and an explanation as to why the sample could not be processed will be provided. Reasons why samples cannot be processed include but are not limited to:
Please refer to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre for the Case Definitions for Notifiable Diseases:
Following receipt at the Laboratory, results should be available on the next working day and will be reported to the referring clinician via the Enfer Medical Client Portal or in a format agreed with clients.
Established clients can login to the portal using the link above.
