Evaluation of rapid methods of identifying group B streptococci

Rapid methods of identifying Lancefield group B streptococci were compared to the standard Fuller's extraction method. Such tests as sodium hippurate hydrolysis, bile tolerance, aesculin hydrolysis, pyruvate fermentation, Camp factor, pigmentation, and bacitracin haemolysis were tested on both routine clinical specimens and National Collection of Type Culture strains. The results show that pigmentation on Islams's medium was the most definitive test available rapidly to identify group B streptococci.