Evaluation of a rapid latex agglutination test for detection of group B streptococci in vaginal specimens

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Abstract
A rapid latex agglutination test (Bactigen Group B Streptococcus Cervical Screen) for detection of group B streptococci in cervical-vaginal specimens was evaluated using two different slide systems, the traditional serologic slide and capilliary action track (Trak) slide. Culture was used as reference method. A total of 344 cervical-vaginal specimens were tested. The group B streptococci carrier rate was found by culture to be 10.8 %, 56.8 % of these specimens being heavily colonized. The sensitivity and specificity of the latex agglutination test in heavily colonized specimens was 95.2 % and 99.3 % for the serologic and track slides respectively. The overall sensitivity, including lightly colonized specimens, was 62.2 %. The positive predictive value was 92 % for both slide systems, and the negative predictive value 95.4 % and 95.6 % for the serologic and track slides respectively. The latex agglutination test, used with either slide, provides a rapid and effective method for identification of specimens heavily colonized with group B streptococci. The track slide may provide a convenient alternative to serologic slides since it does not require rotation.