Countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis in group B streptococcal disease

Countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis was used for the detection of group- and type-specific antigens in the body fluids of 61 infants from St. Louis and Indiana with group B streptococcal infections. Urine concentrated using an Amicon filter yielded the highest percentage of positive results; 81% were positive in the St Louis group. When three body fluids (urine, CSF, and blood) were available, at least one was positive for group B streptococcus in 95% of the cases. This study demonstrates the applicability of this test in a tertiary care facility (St Louis) and in smaller hospitals (Indiana) with access to central laboratory.