Soluble antigen extracts used as blocking agents to obtain specificity in serotyping of Streptococcus mutans.

Specific immunofluorescent (IF) conjugates were prepared for Streptococcus mutans serotypes d and g. Serotype specificity was obtained by blocking the cross-reacting antibodies with soluble antigen extracted from cells of the cross-reacting strains. Soluble antigen extracts are particularly useful in obtaining specificity with quantities of conjugates that are too small to be efficiently subjected to adsorption procedures. They also can be used advantageously to block traces of cross-reactivity that frequently remain with conjugates that have been subjected to conventional adsorption procedures. S. mutans isolates from dental plaque samples were identified as belonging to serotypes d or g on the basis of IF staining with conjugates that were made type-specific by blocking the cross-reacting antibodies with appropriate soluble antigen extracts.