Evaluation of a rapid screening test for detecting group B streptococci in pregnant women.
The QUIDEL Group B Strep Test is an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) that was compared with culture for the rapid detection of moderate to high levels of group B streptococci (GBS) colonization in pregnant women. A total of 331 pregnant women were included in the study protocol, and GBS were cultured from 19 of these patients in moderate or greater amounts (incidence of 5.7%). Compared with culture, the EIA had a sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 89, 99, 89, and 99%, respectively. With a sensitivity of 89%, the 95% confidence interval for this assay is 88 to 90%. The QUIDEL EIA test can be performed in less than 10 min and appears to be a reliable method for detecting moderate or greater amounts of GBS in vaginal or cervical specimens.
Granato
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PA
Department of Pathology, Crouse Irving Memorial Hospital, Syracuse, New York 13210.
Petosa
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MT
D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000635:transmission; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology