Open AccessEvaluation of the Strep B OIA test compared to standard culture methods for detection of group B streptococci
Author(s) -
Song J.Y.,
Lin L.L.,
Shott S.,
Kimber N.,
Tangora J.,
Cohen A.,
Wells A.,
Maezes M.,
Aroutcheva A.,
Faro S.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
infectious diseases in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.656
H-Index - 48
eISSN - 1098-0997
pISSN - 1064-7449
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-0997(1999)7:4<202::aid-idog8>3.0.co;2-d
Subject(s) - medicine , group b , predictive value , agar , gold standard (test) , nalidixic acid , streptococcus , positive predicative value , gynecology , gastroenterology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , antibiotics , ampicillin , bacteria , genetics
Objective This study evaluated the accuracy of the commercial product Strep B OIA (optical immunoassay) compared to the standard agar and broth culture methods for detecting vaginal colonization with group B streptococcus (GBS). Methods Preoperative vaginal cultures were obtained from 141 nonpregnant gynecological patients undergoing major gynecologic surgery. Major gynecologic surgery was defined as benign gynecologic, gyne‐oncology, and urogynecologic procedures. The results of the Strep B OIA test were compared to the results obtained from SXT agar (selective for GBS), colistin‐nalidixic acid (CNA) agar, and Todd‐Hewitt broth cultures. Results The prevalence of vaginal GBS colonization in this population was 20.6%. The sample sensitivity and specificity of the OIA method were 58.6% and 85.7%, respectively. These values are lower than the sensitivity and specificity of 85.4% and 91.5%, respectively, given in the OIA package insert. Although the sample negative predictive value was fairly high (88.9%), the positive predictive value was low (51.5%). Conclusion Although a previous study stated that the product Strep B OIA reduces the time required to obtain results (30 minutes versus days) and can, therefore, function as a useful diagnostic tool in the management of early‐onset GBS disease, the present study's finding of low sensitivity and low positive predictive value indicates that this test may have very limited clinical value. Infect. Dis. Obstet. Gynecol. 7:202–205, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.