Streptococcus grouping latex kits: evaluation of five commercially available examples

Abstract

This study compares a recently introduced latex agglutination test for the serogrouping of beta-haemolytic streptococci against four internationally used commercial kits. The new kit is Prolex-Blue (Pro-Lab Diagnostics) and the comparators are Streptex (Murex), PathoDx (DPC), Streptococcus Grouping kit (Oxoid) and Prolex-White (Pro-Lab Diagnostics). A total of 302 consecutive clinical isolates are tested against all five kits, following the individual manufacturer's protocol, for both accuracy and speed. In addition, the data produced permits determination of the strengths or weaknesses of the kits against individual serotypes. Prolex-Blue proved to be both accurate and rapid, with a sensitivity of 99% and a specificity of 100%. Furthermore, average time to agglutination was substantially less than achieved by three of the other four kits evaluated.

Chemical Synthesis of an Octasaccharide Derivative Related to Group B StreptococcusCell‐Wall Polysaccharide

“…As the common polysaccharide antigen expressed in all GBS strains, GBC has been well known as antigenic determinant to diagnose GBS species in clinic. [ 10,21 ] However, the limited studies have exemplified the possibility of GBC as potential targets for vaccine development. [ 22‐24 ]…”

“…Bacterial cell surface polysaccharides are identified as crucial immunomodulators useful for the development of clinical carbohydrate‐based diagnostic agents and antibacterial vaccines. [ 10‐12 ] To date, two kinds of polysaccharide antigens, i.e ., the serotype‐ specific capsular polysaccharide (CPS) and the group B‐specific carbohydrate (GBC), have been well elucidated to covalently anchored to the peptidoglycan (PG) on the cell surface of GBS bacteria. [ 13‐14 ] The GBS CPS is characterized as the serotype‐specific polysaccharide used for the classification of the different GBS serotypes.…”

Sudden Death Caused by Fulminant Bacterial Infection: Background and Pathogenesis of Japanese Adult Cases

“…Recently, developed streptococcus grouping latex kits may be useful for early diagnosis (17,18). However, the false negative results as well as the possibility of another bacteria such as S. pneumoniae are possible.…”