Antibody-magnetite method for selective concentration of Giardia lamblia cysts from water samples

An antibody-magnetite method was developed in order to selectively concentrate Giardia cysts from water samples. The indirect technique employed a mouse immunoglobulin G anti-Giardia antibody as a primary antibody and an anti-mouse immunoglobulin G antibody-coated magnetite particle as a secondary labeling reagent. The magnetically labeled cysts were then concentrated by high-gradient magnetic separation. Ninety percent of the seeded cysts were recovered from buffer when this method was employed. An average of 82% of the seeded cysts were recovered from water samples with various turbidities. Significantly higher cyst recoveries were obtained from water samples with turbidities below 600 nephelometric turbidity units.