Comparison of two rapid streptococcal antigen detection assays with culture for diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis.
In this study, 801 pharyngeal specimens were cultured for group A streptococci and tested with the Biostar Strep A Optical Immunoassay (Strep A OIA). The respective sensitivities and specificities were as follows: culture, 97.1 and 100%; Strep A OIA, 91.5 and 94.8%. Of the 801 specimens, 597 were also tested with the Abbott TestPack Strep A Assay (TP-ST). For those specimens tested by all three methods, the respective sensitivities and specificities were as follows: culture, 98.1 and 100%; Strep A OIA, 92.3 and 95.4%; and TP-ST, 79.4 and 100%. The Strep A OIA is significantly more sensitive than TP-ST and compares favorably with culture.
Heiter
B J
BJ
Division of Laboratory Medicine, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania 17822, USA.
Bourbeau
P P
PP
D000328:Adult; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013997:Time Factors
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial