COMPARATIVE-EVALUATION OF 2 INDIGENOUSLY DEVELOPED TESTS FOR RAPID DETECTION OF GROUP - A STREPTOCOCCI DIRECTLY FROM THROAT SWABS

The efficacy of two indigenously developed rapid tests, latex agglutin ation and antibody capture assay (a colour immunochromatographic assay ) to detect group A Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS) was evaluated in comp arison with the traditional culture method ('Gold Standard') in both a symptomatic children (1500) and symptomatic patients (233). Throat swa bs were taken in duplicate and rapid tests performed on one swab and c ulture on the other. Both latex agglutination and antibody capture ass ays showed a sensitivity of 100 per cent and specificity of > 98 per c ent as compared to culture and isolation in symptomatic patients, Howe ver, among asymptomatic carriers sensitivity of 100 per cent and 87.5 per cent and specificity > 95 per cent were observed for latex aggluti nation and antibody capture assays respectively. Latex agglutination s howed no false negative results and sensitivity was not affected by lo w beta-haemolytic counts in asymptomatic children. The rapid tests des cribed here will help in the detection and thereby the management of G AS infection.