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Comparison of the Gen-Probe Group A streptococcus Direct Test with culture and a rapid streptococcal antigen detection assay for diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis.

Department of Laboratory Medicine, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania 17822.

ABSTRACT

The Gen-Probe Group A Streptococcus Direct Test (GP-ST) is a new assay which utilizes a nucleic acid probe to detect group A streptococci directly from pharyngeal swabs. In this study, 1,103 specimens were cultured and tested by GP-ST. The sensitivities and specificities were as follows: culture, 98.8 and 100%; GP-ST, 92.4 and 99.6%. Of the 1,103 specimens, 808 were also tested with the TestPack Strep A assay. For the specimens tested by all three methods, the sensitivities and specificities were as follows: culture, 99.5 and 100%; TestPack Strep A assay, 76.3 and 99.7%; GP-ST, 93.5 and 99.7%. The GP-ST is a very user-friendly assay which has the potential to replace culture for the diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis.

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