[Detection of gonococcal antigens by Staphylococcus protein A (SPA) coagglutination assay]

Gonococcal coagglutination assay reagent was produced on the basis of a SPA absorbent of specific antibody against Neisseria gonorrhoeae reference strains. Using this reagent, the assay could detect a minimum bacterial concentration of 10(6) CFU/ml. No crossreactivity was found with bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Branhamella catarrhalis, Streptococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Neisseria meningitidis. Fifty-five Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains isolated from patient discharges in 1989 were screened in parallel wing Phadebact monoclonal coagglutination assay reagent and our reagent, the resulting correspondence rate was 100%. We examined 71 suspected gonorrhoea patients by detecting urethral discharges and cervical secretions with our reagent and compared the results with those of the standard culture method: the results were equivalent. It is concluded that this reagent can be used for the rapid identification of N. gonorrhoeae and for the rapid diagnosis of acute infective patients.