J Korean Pediatr Soc.  1994 Jun;37(6):812-815.

Rapid Detection Test for Streptococcus pyogenes in Normal Carriers of Group A Beta-Hemolytic Streptococci

• Cha SH
• Kim SJ

Abstract

Streptococcus pyogenes has been regarded very importantly because of its severe sequelae, namely rheumatic fever and acute glomerulonephropathy. Rapid tests to identify this organism have been studied widely in developed countries in 1980s. We proceeded the rapid test (A Strept ADTM, Denka Seiken Co, Japan) of S. pyogenes on 141 children who were Known to be carriers of this organism to evaluate whether the rapid test could be used at the pediatric office base. Throat cultures were taken simultaneously to evaluate the efficacy of this rapid test. The test shoewed very low sensitivity of 17% (13/14) and high specificity of 99% (65/66). The positive predictive value was.93% (13/14) and negative predictive value 51% (65/127) respectively. Most of the positive results of rapid test have been agreed with the actual number of colonies on the throat culture. The reasons for the low sensitivity and negative predictive value of the rapid test should be discovered and supplemented if it could be applicable to the pediatric office and accurate evaluation of the rapid test in patients with acute pharyngitis is needed.

MeSH Terms

Child
Developed Countries
Humans
Pharyngitis
Pharynx
Rheumatic Fever
Sensitivity and Specificity
Streptococcus pyogenes*
Streptococcus*