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Abstract The present study was carried out on a total of 85 cases presenting with symptoms that might be suggestive of intestinal giardiasis. All stool samples were subjected to: a) microscopical examination using direct wet smear, concentration technique and Iron Hematoxylin (Fe.Hx) staining. b) Direct immnnofuorescent assay (DFA). c) DNA extraction followed by a PCR, using nested primers specific for Giardia. Considering the nested PCR (nPCR) as the gold standard test, sensitivity of stool microscopy using the direct examination and concentration technique and that of stool microscopy using permanent Iron Hematoxylin stain was found to be 66.7% and 72.9% respectively with a statistically significant difference. While the sensitivity of DFA was 85.4% in detection of Giardia infection with a statistically significant difference compared with the nested PCR. No false positive results were recorded; therefore, specificity for all tests used was 100% |