A promising new test to detect Streptococcus pneumoniae urinary antigen

Med Mal Infect. 2017 Nov;47(7):494-497. doi: 10.1016/j.medmal.2017.07.007. Epub 2017 Sep 22.

Abstract

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the main etiology of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). A quick detection of urinary antigen helps in obtaining a documented result in case of Streptococcus pneumoniae CAP.

Methods: We compared the BinaxNOW®S. pneumoniae test with the new urinary antigen Sofia®S. pneumoniae FIA. We examined 133 urine samples.

Results: Of the 133 included and tested non-concentrated urine samples, BinaxNOW® and Sofia® tests yielded 122 and 113 negative results and 11 and 20 positive results, respectively. The overall agreement between the tests was good.

Conclusion: This new test enabled the diagnosis of seven additional cases (7/133=5.2%). The improved detection with Sofia® may be due to the immunofluorescence method used by this new test as compared with the colorimetric method used by BinaxNOW®. Sofia® also offers the advantage of being connected to the laboratory information system (LIS) allowing an automated traceability.

Keywords: BinaxNOW(®); Sofia(®); Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antigens, Bacterial / analysis*
  • Clinical Laboratory Information Systems*
  • Colorimetry / methods
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / urine
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / immunology*
  • Urinalysis / methods*
  • Urinary Tract Infections / immunology
  • Urinary Tract Infections / microbiology*
  • Urinary Tract Infections / urine

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial