Human gastroenteritis is a multifactorial disease. It can be caused by various pathogens agents : viruses (Adenovirus or Rotavirus), bacteria (Salmonella) or protozoan microorganisms such as Cryptosporidium parvum.
Diagnosis of the ethiological agent of diarrhea can only be performed in laboratory since no relevant clinical signs allow to differenciate amongst different microorganisms. Moreover classical techniques involving cell culture, electron microscopy, floatation and staining techniques allow to identify these agents, it is well known that these ways of identification are time consuming and sometimes not sensitive enough.
ELISA technology has rapidly replaced these techniques giving rise to simplicity, rapidity, sensitivity and specificity. Unfortunately this procedure is time and money consuming and not suitable for physicians or for one shot analysis. Moreover, in emergency case, the only possibility to diagnose Adenovirus is to perform a latex test which is less sensitive than ELISA, needs faecal material manipulation and more or less skill to be interpretated.
 
The test uses new homogenous immunochromatographic system with gold particules. It is a ready to use test which only needs a faecal sample dilution with the supplied ready to use dilution buffer. Specificity is ensured by using a monoclonal antibody conjugated with gold particules and directed against specific human genus-specific Adenovirus antigens. The immunochromatographic stick is coated with a monoclonal immunoreagent specific for genus-specific Adenovirus hexon antigens. Liquid sample and gold conjugate both migrate by capillarity and reach the first specific anti-Adenovirus monoclonal reagent. If Adenovirus is present in the sample, it is blocked and immunoreaction appears as a red-pink line. As sample still migrates, it reaches the second non specific anti-mouse IgG which gives rise to a second red-pink line. This rear line indicates that the chromatography has been developped without hindrance. It appears also with negative samples.