IDENTIFICATION OF STREPTOCOCCUS-MILLERI GROUP ISOLATES TO THE SPECIESLEVEL WITH A COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE RAPID TEST SYSTEM

Clinical isolates of the ''Streptococcus milleri'' species group were examined by conventional methods and a rapid, commercially available m ethod for the identification of these strains to the species level. Th e levels of agreement between the identifications obtained with the co mmercially available system (Fluo-Card Milleri; KEY Scientific, Round Rock, Tex.) and conventional methods were 98% for 50 Streptococcus ang inosus strains, 97% for 31 Streptococcus constellatus strains, and 88% for 17 isolates identified as Streptococcus intermedius, Patient reco rds were also studied in order to gain information on the frequency an d sites of isolation of each of the three ''S, milleri'' group species .