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Updated: Sep 27, 2026
Capsular Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae Using the Quellung Reaction
Published on: February 24, 2014
Evaluation of semiautomated multiplex PCR assay for determination of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes and
Elliot R Lawrence1, David B Griffiths, Siobhán A Martin
1Department of Medical Microbiology, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London, London E1 2AD.
Abstract:
A semiautomated method for the determination of five serotypes and three serogroups in Streptococcus pneumoniae was developed. Primers specific for serotypes 1, 3, 14, 19F, and 23F and serogroups 6, 19, and 23 were combined in three multiplex PCRs. Products were separated by capillary electrophoresis with a 7-min run time, and a serotype or serogroup was assigned on the basis of fragment size. The method was used to test 93 clinical isolates, and all isolates of the serotypes concerned were correctly detected. The strategy would allow the detection of multiple serotypes in a single sample. Detection of additional serotypes could be included as capsule locus sequences become available.
