METHOD OF ASSAYING PROTOZOAN OOCYST AND DETECTION REAGENT THEREFOR

摘要

A method of assaying oocysts of protozoa, such as Cryptosporidium, in an environment sample with high sensitivity at low cost within a short period of time; and a detection reagent for use therein. Magnetic microparticles of 5 to 500 nm particle diameter having, fixed thereto, a binding factor capable of specific recognition of oocyst are added to a specimen containing protozoan oocysts, so that by the use of binding reaction to oocysts, a complex of oocyst/ binding factor/magnetic microparticle is formed. The formed complex is recovered by magnetic separation, and the protozoan oocysts contained in the complex are assayed. Further, there is provided, for conducting this method, a reagent for detection of protozoan oocysts comprising magnetic microparticles of 5 to 500 nm particle diameter having, fixed thereto, an antibody against oocysts or a binding factor capable of recognizing the antibody.