title: Diagnosis of group A streptococcal pharyngitis in a private clinic: comparative evaluation of an optical immunoassay method and culture.
abstract: We compared the sensitivity and specificity of the Strep A Optical ImmunoAssay (OIA) method with our routine trypticase soy agar with 5% sheep blood (TSA) culture technique and with a broth-enhanced culture in the diagnosis of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection. Compared with broth-enhanced culture, the Strep A OIA had a sensitivity and specificity of 94.8% and 98.8%, respectively; TSA culture had a sensitivity and specificity of 92.5% and 99.4%, respectively. The Strep A OIA, which takes 10 minutes to perform, offered sensitivity and specificity equivalent to that of TSA culture in the diagnosis of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis.
authors.affiliation: Boulder Medical Center, CO 80304, USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Fries
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002648:Child; D003470:Culture Media; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media