Evaluation of the phadebact gonococcus test, a coagglutination procedure for confirmation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Abstract

Rapid and accurate immunological confirmation of presumptively positive gonococci could be facilitated with the Phadebact Gonococcus Test, a slide coagglutination procedure. The test was compared with carbohydrate utilization and fluorescent-antibody tests on 235 clinical isolates. With the coagglutination procedure, 97.1% of the isolates were identified as compared with 93.1% by carbohydrate utilization and 98.7% by fluorescent antibody. The Phadebact test was highly specific, showing no cross-reactions with 55 other Neisseria spp., or with 50 miscellaneous organisms [bacteria] occasionally found growing on selective culture media. Because of its high sensitivity and specificity, ease of performance and ability to provide results in 2-3 min, this procedure provides a suitable alternative to the carbohydrate utilization and fluorescent-antibody tests for confirmation of N. gonorrhoeae.