Despite recent developments in microbiological biomolecular techniques, blood culture remains the most practical and reliable method in the diagnosis of bloodstream infections and one of the most important tools in the clinical microbiology laboratory, taking into account the role played by systemic infections as a major cause of mortality and morbidity, especially within the hospital environment. Various continuously monitoring blood culture systems are extensively used in order to increase the rapidity of isolation and identification of microorganisms in blood samples, and paired aerobic and anaerobic blood culture bottles are commonly used in order to obtain better overall recovery of microorganisms, as well as the recovery of specific types of bacteria. The traditional aerobic and anaerobic bacteriological media also detect episodes of candidemia, although the sensitivity in this case is estimated to be only 50% (12). The efficiency of yeast detection in blood samples can be increased by terminal subcultures, but the practice is time-consuming and the risk of underestimating yeast infections remains high. This is unacceptable if we take into account the expanding role of yeasts as agents of nosocomial infections, particularly in intensive-care units (ICUs) (4, 18, 23), and candidemia-associated mortality (40%), the highest of all hospital bloodstream infections (4). In order to facilitate faster and more efficient isolation of fungi from blood, the Bactec automated blood culture system (Becton Dickinson Diagnostic Systems, Sparks, MD) has media specifically formulated for this purpose. In addition to the traditional aerobicanaerobic bacteriological set, their use has been recommended when blood culture is required for patients at risk of fungal infections (7, 16) and when a concomitant bloodstream bacterial infection is suspected of inhibiting yeast detection (16).Nevertheless, fungal media are not routinely employed by many hospitals, as they require additional blood from patients, an increased amount of incubator space, and the additional costs of processing and purchasing bottles (10). Moreover, even the routine use of anaerobic bacteriological bottles in blood culture has been (21), and still is (13), a subject of discussion because of the reportedly declining rates of anaerobic bloodstream infections (2) and the possibility of recognizing them clinically and treating affected patients empirically for such infections (17,19,22).

A rapid latex agglutination test (Bactigen Group B Streptococcus Cervical Screen) for detection of group B streptococci in cervical-vaginal specimens was evaluated using two different slide systems, the traditional serologic slide and capillary action track (Trak) slide. Culture was used as reference method. A total of 344 cervical-vaginal specimens were tested. The group B streptococci carrier rate was found by culture to be 10.8%, 56.8% of these specimens being heavily colonized. The sensitivity and specificity of the latex agglutination test in heavily colonized specimens was 95.2% and 99.3% for the serologic and track slides respectively. The overall sensitivity, including lightly colonized specimens, was 62.2%. The positive predictive value was 92% for both slide systems, and the negative predictive value 95.4% and 95.6% for the serologic and track slides respectively. The latex agglutination test, used with either slide, provides a rapid and effective method for identification of specimens heavily colonized with group B streptococci. The track slide may provide a convenient alternative to serologic slides since it does not require rotation.