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 animals 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