Staphylococcus aureus Test

The Staphylococcus aureus test is a rapid latex slide agglutination test to detect the presence of both clumping factor and protein A. The presence of these two components are used in the identification of Staphylococcus aureus from other species of Staphylococci. Pure culture suspected of being Staphylococcus aureus should be used. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common version is skin infection. Strains have become resistant to antibiotics and is a common pathogen in healthcare facilities. 

 

The pathogenic nature of Staphylococcus aureus has received wide attention in cases of suppurative infections, food poisoning and other situations. The identification of Staphylococcus aureus is generally confirmed by the production of coagulase in the microorganism. The tube coagulase test detects free coagulase, an extracellular enzyme produced by Staphylococcus aureus which activates Prothrombin that clots the plasma used in the assay. The slide coagulate test detects bound coagulase (clumping factor), a cell associated factor which interacts with fibrinogen and causes the aggregation of Staphylococcus aureus. The demonstration of protein A in over 95% of the human strains of Staphylococcus aureus has provided a basis for another slide procedure using latex particles coated with human plasma. The high affinity of protein A to the Fe portion of plasma immunoglobulin G (IgG), and of bound coagulase for fibrinogen in plasma allows rapid agglutination of the coated latex particles in the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. 

 

The Staphylococcus aureus test incorporates the use of specially coated latex particles that will form aggregates in the presence of protein A, or clumping factor or a combination of both; as a basis for identifying Staphylococcus aureus from the other staphylococci. Some non-Staphylococcus aureus species may create non-specific agglutination with the Staphylococcus aureus latex particles. To eliminate these cases, and thereby improve the specificity of the test, a control latex reagent (latex particles not coated with either fibrinogen or human IgG) is provided in the test kit and should be used.

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SDS   |   Package Insert