title: Evaluation of four methods for the detection of streptococcal group A antigen directly from throat swabs.
abstract: We have compared the sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility of four rapid tests for the detection of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci antigen directly from a throat swab. The four methods were very specific, all of them offered reproductibility and surpassed conventional culture in speed and simplicity.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario de San Carlos, Servicio de Microbiología Clínica, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Betriu
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de la Torre
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Picazo
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic