title: Delayed culture of group-A streptococci: an evaluation of variables in methods of examining throat swabs.
abstract: We studied the effects on the frequency of isolation of group-A streptococci from throat swabs of school children on three varibles: (1) plating the cultures within 4 h of collecting the swabs or after storage for 4 days at room temperature; (2) using a plain or a serum-coated cotton swab; and (3) including silica gel in the swab tube or omitting this. Under the conditions of our experiment, only delayed plating of the swab gave a statistically significant advantage. When the delayed-isolation technique was used, neither the swab type nor the presence or absence of silica gel significantly influenced the result. The least advantageous combination of variables was: plating within 4 h, a plain swab, and the absence of silica gel.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D008722:Methods; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000175:diagnosis; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification*