Comparison of the API 20S Streptococcus identification system with an immunorheophoresis procedure and two commercial latex agglutination tests for identifying beta-hemolytic streptococci.

The API 20S Streptococcus identification system and a new immunorheophoresis procedure were evaluated as means for determining the Lancefield serogroup of beta-hemolytic streptococci recovered from human clinical specimens. The serogroup of 96 strains was determined by these methods and by two commercially available latex agglutination tests. Streptex and SeroSTAT. The results of all four procedures were compared with the results of a classical precipitin test. The API 20S system correctly categorized 92.7% of the isolates; 94.8% were correctly identified by the immunorheophoresis procedure. The latex agglutination procedures were of comparable accuracy, yielding correct identifications with approximately 92% of the strains tested.