title: Latex agglutination testing directly from throat swabs for rapid detection of beta-hemolytic streptococci from Lancefield serogroup C.
abstract: A latex agglutination method for the rapid detection of beta-hemolytic streptococci from Lancefield serogroup C in throat swabs from 403 university students with symptomatic pharyngitis was evaluated. Compared with culture, the rapid test was poorly sensitive (34.4%) but very specific (98.4%) in detecting group C beta-hemolytic streptococci. The sensitivity of the rapid test improved with an increasing quantity of growth on culture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville 22908.
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Hayden
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kiselica
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Hendley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012703:Serotyping; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*