OPTICAL IMMUNOASSAY FOR STREPTOCOCCAL PHARYNGITIS - EVALUATION OF ACCURACY WITH ROUTINE AND MUCOID STRAINS ASSOCIATED WITH ACUTE RHEUMATIC-FEVER OUTBREAK IN THE INTERMOUNTAIN AREA OF THE UNITED-STATES

The Strep A OIA (BioStar, Inc., Boulder, Cole.) rapid detection system is an intriguing technology that utilizes an immunoassay relying on c hanges in reflected light to directly detect group A streptococcal ant igen from specimens. In this evaluation, 424 routine pediatric throat specimens and 20 simulated oropharyngeal specimens with added mucoid ( M type 3, 18) strains were cultured and tested by the Strep A OIA. The respective sensitivities and specificities were as follows: Strep A O IA versus enhanced broth culturing, 84.2 and 95.7%; and streptococcus- SXT agar (BBL Microbiology Systems, Cockeysville, Md.) culturing versu s enhanced broth culturing, 82.9 and 98.6%. The Strep A OIA is an 8-mi n, technologist-friendly, accurate technique with an 89.4% agreement w ith traditional culturing.