PEDIATRICS Vol. 54 No. 6 December 1974, pp. 718-723
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Identification of Streptococcus pyogenes in a Pediatric Outpatient Department: A Practical System Designed for Rapid Results and Resident Teaching

Katherine Sprunt M.D.1, Dorothea Vail B.S.1, and Russell S. Asnes M.D.1

1 Bacteriology Diagnostic Laboratory and the Division of Pediatric Ambulatory Care, Babies Hospital, Childrens Medical and Surgical Center of New York, and the Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York City

A rapid screening method for identification of clinic patients with pharyngitis who are carrying group A beta-hemolytic streptococci and for teaching residents the values and limitations of the culture-disk approach to identification has been reviewed as developed for a busy clinic and a busy hospital laboratory. Identification of positive cultures in less than 24 hours, using Taxos A disk and specific fluorescent antibody uptake, resulted in 12% apparent false-positive and 3.6% false-negative reports. However, when viewed in the light of the techniques used for verifying results, there were probably 3% false-positive and 3% false-negative reports. The screening method is considered acceptably reliable and practical as a laboratory tool and a resident teaching device.

Submitted on August 24, 1974
Accepted on March 19, 1974