Evaluation of a new latex agglutination test for detection of streptococcal antibodies.
A liposome-enhanced latex agglutination test (Leapstrep, Cooper Biomedical, Inc., Malvern, PA) was evaluated for its efficacy as a screening test for antistreptolysin O (ASO) and antideoxyribonuclease B (ADNB) antibodies. A total of 179 sera were tested by both Leapstrep and reference ASO and ADNB test methods. The Leapstrep test had a sensitivity of 77% and a specificity of 69% for ASO antibodies when compared to a microtiter adaptation of the Todd-Hewitt ASO tube test. It had a sensitivity of 76% and 75% specificity for ADNB antibodies as compared to the ADNB microtiter enzyme neutralization test. The overall sensitivity of Leapstrep for detecting ASO and/or ADNB antibodies was 73%. The Leapstrep test failed to detect elevated levels of ASO and/or ADNB antibodies in eight patients with streptococcal infections or poststreptococcal sequelae. The Leapstrep test appears to have insufficient sensitivity to be recommended as a screening test for streptococcal antibodies.
Heath-Fracica
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LA
Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.
Estévez
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EG
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000276:immunology*; D013301:Streptolysins / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D013301:Streptolysins; C025964:streptolysin O; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; C020069:deoxyribonuclease B