A new method for the serological grouping of streptococci by coagglutination with specific antibodies absorbed to protein A-containing staphylococci has been assessed. A total of 242 strains of streptococci, including beta-haemolytic streptococci of groups A, B, C, F, and G, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Strep. faecalis were studied. All streptococci of groups A, B, C, and G, groupable by standa...

Two strains of Group A streptococci have been shown to produce streptokinases with different physical and immunologic characteristics. These streptokinases have been designated SK-A and SK-B. Examination of additional strains of Group A streptococci has indicated that SK-A is the more commonly encountered streptokinase. Studies comparing the two Group A streptokinases with streptokinase of Grou...

The identification of Lancefield group B streptococci with immunofluorescence was studied after significant differences between the precipitin and immunofluorescent results were noted. It was found that strains of group B streptococci, unlike groups A, C, and G streptococci, do not reliably react with a fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled conjugate that contains antibodies mainly against C polys...

A rapid test to detect the hydrolysis of sodium hippurate by beta-hemolytic streptococci within 2 h was developed. All group B streptococci tested were positive using this method and all other groups were negative.

Rapid methods of identifying Lancefield group B streptococci were compared to the standard Fuller's extraction method. Such tests as sodium hippurate hydrolysis, bile tolerance, aesculin hydrolysis, pyruvate fermentation, Camp factor, pigmentation, and bacitracin haemolysis were tested on both routine clinical specimens and National Collection of Type Culture strains. The results show that pigm...