[Identification of group B streptococcal infection by the latex test]

A commercial latex agglutination test (Wellcogen Strep B) has been prepared for testing body fluids. This test does not require a special equipment and is very easy to handle. Results are established within few minutes. We examined this method in unconcentrated urine specimens of 98 pre- and full term neonates suffering from RDS. In all 48 cultural proven cases of strep. B sepsis LAT was positive, the test was performed 2.5 h-19 h after onset of RDS. Four times we could not exclude false positive results definitively, but no false negative results were found.