What is a Giardia Test?

Giardia is a single cell parasite that infects people and animals all over the world. It used to be a difficult parasite to diagnose because it is so small, difficult to recongnize and is shed intermittently. It is occasionally seen on the traditional fecal testing methods, but more frequently it requires specialized testing to truly diagnose this parasite.

The newer and more sensitive test is actually testing for the proteins associated with the parasite. Even with this improved testing, some patients will require multiple tests before a diagnosis can be made with strong confidence.