Validation of New Liquid Faecal Swab for the Detection of Clostridium difficile from Faecal Speciments with Multiple Diagnostic Assays

This study evaluated a new liquid faecal swab system (Medical Wire & Equipment) for compatibility with multiple Clostridium difficile diagnostic assays, including toxin A/B ELISA, GDH testing, and real-time PCR. Fifty previously confirmed positive faecal samples were tested both directly and via the liquid swab device containing Cary Blair transport medium (SIGMA-FECAL TRANSWAB®). Across all platforms, results showed 100% concordance between direct stool testing and the liquid swab system, with 49/50 samples positive and 1 negative in both formats. The foam swab collected sufficient specimen volume (~136 mg) and the dilution effect of the transport medium did not impact assay performance or PCR detection. Overall, the liquid faecal swab demonstrated full analytical compatibility with routine C. difficile diagnostics and supports improved standardisation and automation in pre-analytical workflows.