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Article
May 1974

Serologic Diagnosis of Streptococcal Infection: Comparison of a Rapid Hemagglutination Technique With Conventional Antibody Tests

Author Affiliations

Memphis
From the Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee, Memphis.

Am J Dis Child. 1974;127(5):676-681. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1974.02110240062007
Abstract

A two-minute slide agglutination test (Streptozyme) proved as sensitive in detecting streptococcal throat and skin infections as the combination of antistreptolysin O, antihyaluronidase, and antideoxyribonuclease B determinations. Acute phase sera from patients with rheumatic fever and glomerulonephritis were usually positive in high titer (400 or greater). Streptozyme was positive in low titer in 25% of patients with a variety of nonstreptococcal illnesses. Streptozyme thus appears to represent a simple, highly sensitive test for the detection of a multiplicity of serum antibodies to streptococcal products. It is clearly useful as a screening test. Its use for specific diagnosis, in lieu of a battery of streptococcal antibody tests, may prove feasible; however, more detailed data are required as to the specificity of the reagent before such recommendations can be formulated.

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