Streptococcus
pyogenes
Test code:
B0077
- Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of Streptococcus pyogenes by
real time polymerase
chain reaction.
Streptococcus pyogenes is a gram-positive
spherical-shaped bacterium. It is beta-hemolytic and belongs to
Lancefield serogroup A, also known as group A streptococci (GAS).
The bacteria can cause a wide variety of diseases in humans
such as acute pharyngitis, accounting for 15%-30% of cases in children
and 5%-10% of cases in adults. During the winter and spring
in temperate climates, up to 20% of asymptomatic school-aged children
may be GAS carriers.
Although GAS usually causes
pharyngitis or impetigo, it can infrequently cause invasive diseases
such as cellulitis, bacteremia, necrotizing fasciitis and toxic shock
syndrome (TSS). Along with Staphylococcus aureus, GAS is one of the
most common pathogens responsible for cellulitis.
GAS
is ubiquitous in nature and many animal species are carriers of these
bacteria. Close contact between
pets
and humans can spread this infection in both directions.
Although culture may be used to detect these bacteria, molecular
detection by PCR is a rapid, highly sensitive and specific method
(Bexiga et al., 2011).
Utilities:
-
Help confirm the disease causing agent
-
Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical diagnosis of S.
pyogenes infection.
-
Help ensure that colonies are free of S. pyogenes
-
Early prevention of spread of this bacterium
-
Minimize personnel exposure to this bacterium
-
Safety monitoring of biological products that derive from primates
Specimen requirements:
0.2 ml whole blood
in EDTA (purple top) tube, or serum, or bacterial
culture; or nasal, pharyngeal or oral swabs.
Contact Zoologix if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen types not listed here, please contact Zoologix to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.
For all specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or
during very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship
with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are
specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen
in transit. See
shipping instructions for more information.
Turnaround time: 2 business days
Methodology:
Qualitative real time PCR
Normal range: Nondetected