[A rapid method of detecting the staphylococcal exotoxin of toxic shock]

The authors suggest a simple and rapid technique, staphylococci coagglutination, for rapid detection of the toxic shock exotoxin (TSE)-producing S. aureus strains. The method is based on the sensitization of formalin-treated Cowan-1 S. aureus cells with immunoglobulins to TSE. The reagent thus obtained coagglutinates with the supernatant of TSE-producing S. aureus tested strains. This method is more sensitive than the routinely used gel immunoprecipitation. The technique for preparing the supernatant of S. aureus tested cultures is also described.