Rapid commercial test for direct detection of group A streptococci in throat swabs

Abstract
The Hybritech Strep A ICON was used for direct testing of 1016 throat specimens for group A betahemolytic streptococci. Both the test and culture were negative in 829 specimens (81.6 %); both were positive in 164 cases (16.1 %); the test was positive and culture negative in 9 cases (0.9 %); and the test negative and culture positive in 14 cases (1.4 %).