On April 9, 2013 Boulder Diagnostics Inc. made an important announcement concerning the launching of its ParaFlor™ kits in the European market. The kits detect Giardia , Cryptosporidium and Blastocystis infections for human and animal applications.
The ParaFlor™ kits have been made available for use by veterinarians and for Research Use Only in humans in the United States. The kits are the first assay that have been designed specifically for Blastocystis parasite detection. Detection of any of these parasites with a ParaFlor™ kit takes 10 minutes or less from fresh and fixed stool samples.
Giardia is a germ that's found in an infected person's fecal matter and causes diarrhea which can go on for one to two weeks. Giardia can cause recreational water illness, which is transmitted in pool water. The germ can survive for as long as 45 minutes even in water that has been chlorinated.
Cryptosporidium causes cryptosporidiosis which is a diarrheal disease. Many types of Cryptosporidium can cause infection in people and in animals. Its outer shell offers protection allowing survival outside the host's body for extended periods of time. Drinking water and water in pools are among the most frequent means of Cryptosporidium transmission.
Blastocystis hominis can sometimes be found in the stool of people that are healthy. However it can also be found in stools of people who have gastrointestinal issues such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. While Blastocystosis may not cause any problems in the digestive system, in other cases the parasite can have quite a disruptive effect. It may also cause profound GI distress when in combination with other kinds of infections.
Blastocystosis makes itself known to the infected party with gastric symptoms such as abdominal cramps, bloating, diarrhea and nausea. Someone with Blastocystosis may also experience uncomfortable gas, anal itching, fatigue, weight loss and loss of appetite.
If you have symptoms such as these that are persistent for more than three days, see your health care provider.