Evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of a kit for the rapid detection of group A streptococci.

A rapid immunoassay method using an Event Test Strip Strep A experimental kit (Boehringer Mannheim) was evaluated. Results obtained were compared with culture results to evaluate the accuracy of detection of group A streptococci directly from throat swabs or from artificial swabs containing various bacterial concentrations. A good diagnostic accuracy was obtained with a sensitivity of 96.

Solid-phase enzyme-receptor assay (SPERA): a competitive-binding assay for glycopeptide antibiotics of the vancomycin class.

A solid-phase enzyme-receptor assay (SPERA) has been developed for glycopeptide antibiotics of the vancomycin class such as teicoplanin, vancomycin, ristocetin, avoparcin, actaplanin, A-47934, A-41030, and A-35512-B. The assay exploits the mechanism of most action of these antibiotics, which is based on their interaction with acyl-D-alanyl-D-alanine, a constituent of the walls of most growing bacterial cells. The antibiotics and enzyme-labeled teicoplanin compete for a synthetic analog of the biological receptor, albumin-epsilon-aminocaproyl-D-alanyl-D-alanine.