Comparative study of antistreptolysin O, antideoxyribonuclease B and multienzyme tests in streptococcal infections

The results of antistreptolysin O (ASO), antideoxyribonuclease B (ADB), and a multienzyme test, Streptozyme, with 162 sera from a stratified random sample of Wisconsin school children, and specimens routinely submitted for serodiagnosis of Group A streptococcal infections are described. A review of the results of Streptozyme tests of laboratories participating in the State Division of Health Proficiency Testing Program, is also presented. The results of these various tests have revealed both false positive and false negative results with the Streptozyme procedure. Although there was good correlation of the Streptozyme findings with the ASO and ADB tests results with sera from young children, false positive Streptozyme test results increased with age of the study subjects. Our results with the ADB test on sera from apparently normal Wisconsin children and young adults suggest that the upper limits of normal ADB values, suggested by the manufacturers of commercial ADB test kits, may be too low.