RT Journal
A1 KELLOGG JA
T1 THe diagnosis of group a, β-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis in the office setting
JF American Journal of Diseases of Children
JO American Journal of Diseases of Children
YR 1989
FD July 1
VO 143
IS 7
SP 761
OP 761
DO 10.1001/archpedi.1989.02150190011001
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.1989.02150190011001
AB Sir.—I read with interest the article in the January 1989 issue of AJDC by Taubman et al1 reporting that a latex agglutination test for direct detection of group A streptococci had a sensitivity of 89.4% and a specificity of 85.7%. Several points in the "Results" and "Comment" sections of the report, however, are of concern.The authors observed that the sensitivity reported by Roddey et al2 was significantly lower than that found in their own study, a difference they attributed to "... the difference in the experience of the people performing the latex test." Another very possible explanation is that, in the study by Roddey et al, sheep blood agar cultures were incubated for 36 to 48 hours if negative after 12 to 24 hours, in contrast to the 18 to 24 hours of incubation reported by Taubman et al. Increased recovery of group A streptococci from sheep