A rotavirus staphylococcal co-agglutination test.

A simple and rapid staphylococcal co-agglutination (SA) test for detection of rotavirus in human faecal specimens is described. A suspension of protein A-containing staphylococci coated with a rabbit hyperimmune serum against the rotavirus strain of calf diarrhoeae virus was used as reagent. Before the SA test, the faecal specimens were absorbed with a suspension of uncoated staphylococci. 34 of 36 rotavirus immune electron microscopy (IEM) positive samples showed a positive SA test, whereas none of 41 IEM negative specimens agglutinated the staphylococcal reagent. The SA test was as sensitive as an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Rotazyme) and in our hands more sensitive than a latex agglutination test (Rotalex).