Detection of group A streptococci in throat swabs by direct fluorometry.
A direct fluorometric test for the rapid detection of group A streptococci from throat swabs was compared with the microscopic fluorescent-antibody test. Formalinized throat swab cultures (490) were examined by the two methods, and the results agreed on 84% of the specimens. In another comparison, 15-hr broth cultures of 103 freshly taken throat swabs were tested by both methods. Of the specimens tested, 101 (98%) were either positive or negative by both methods. In all cases, the latter results correlated with the demonstration of presence or absence of group A streptococci in the specimens by cultural isolation and precipitin grouping tests. It may be feasible to use the direct fluorometric test in a diagnostic laboratory as described or possibly to adapt it for automatic processing of throat swab cultures.
D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005470:Fluorometry; D006801:Humans; D008722:Methods; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes