investigation
Last reviewed 01/2018
- 3-6 stool samples:
look for usual organisms including protozoa and culture for mycobacterium avium intracellulare if CD4+ve count is less than 150/ml.
If stool analysis fails to identify a cause for diarrhoea and the patient does not respond to treatment, then proceed to:
- jejunal biopsy - particularly for the diagnosis of microsporidiosis, MAI and Giardia
- rectal biopsy is the only reliable method of diagnosing CMV colitis