title: Evaluation of a new immunologic test kit for rapid detection of group A streptococci, the Abbott Testpack Strep A plus.
abstract: We compared the Testpack Strep A plus (TPSAP) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test for group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GAS) antigen rapid detection with blood agar culture in 454 pediatric patients with clinical pharyngitis. Of the 454 patients, 118 (25.9%) had positive oropharyngeal cultures for GAS. TPSAP sensitivity was 89.9% (106 of 118) and specificity was 95.8% (322 of 336). We conclude that the TPSAP is specific enough to indicate treatment for a patient with a positive test but that a negative test should be confirmed by culture.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital de l'Enfance, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Laubscher
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van Melle
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dreyfuss
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: de Crousaz
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic