Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis Workup
- Author: Ahmed Bawazeer, MB, ChB, FRCS(C); Chief Editor: Hampton Roy Sr, MD more...
Approach Considerations
A diagnosis of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) is routinely based on the characteristic clinical features. Conjunctival cytologic studies and viral cultures are among the means of identifying and confirming the presence of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis.
Diagnostic methods
A simple way to diagnose EKC is by conjunctival cytology with Giemsa stain to look for intranuclear inclusions and lymphocytes.
To confirm the diagnosis, viral culture is the criterion standard. Use a human epithelial cell line and a Chlamydia transport media.
Other available diagnostic methods include fluorescent antibody techniques, Adenoclone or enzyme immune assay, complement fixation, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay.[4]
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