Detection of Clostridium difficile toxin with McCoy cell monolayers and cell suspensions and comparison with HeLa...

McCoy cell monolayers were compared with HeLa cell monolayers for the detection of Clostridium difficile toxin in 301 stool samples. Tests were positive (greater than or equal to 1/100 dilution) in 83 and 81 specimens tested with McCoy and HeLa cell monolayers, respectively. McCoy cell suspensions were compared with HeLa cell monolayers in 532 stool filtrates. Overall, 90 positive specimens were within one dilution and 432 filtrates were negative with either test, giving a correlation coefficient of r = 0.98. McCoy cell monolayers or suspensions may be a satisfactory substitute for the detection of C. difficile toxin in clinical specimens.