title: Evidence that the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards disk test is less sensitive than the screen plate for detection of low-expression-class methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: A low-expression-class methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain (strain 9302-2) was sent to 207 laboratories as part of the bacteriology component of the Laboratory Proficiency Testing Program of Ontario. An incorrect (susceptible) result was reported by 16 of 76 (21%) of laboratories that used the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory standards disk test, whereas 1 of 104 laboratories that used other methods reported an incorrect result (P < 0.05). Experiments showed discrepancies in the disk test results given by Mueller-Hinton agars from three manufacturers. We advise that laboratories should use a low expression-class methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolate as a control for the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards disk test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ottawa Civic Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lannigan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010068:Oxacillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012015:Reference Standards; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D010068:Oxacillin