A rapid latex agglutination assay for the detection of penicillin-binding protein 2'

A simple and rapid slide latex agglutination assay was developed to detect penicillin-binding protein 2' (PBP2') from isolates of staphylococi. PBP2' present in the membranes of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or methicillin-resistant coagulase negative staphylococci (MRCNS) was rapidly extracted by alkaline treatment and, by combining with a slide agglutination reaction using latex particles sensitized with monoclonal antibodies raised against it, PBP2' could be detected from a single loopful of cells taken from agar plates not containing beta-lactum antibiotics within 15 min. In a study of clinical isolates previously characterized as either MRSA or methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) by antibiotic susceptibility testing, 231 specimens of 232 MRSA were PBP2' positive by latex agglutination, and the 87 specimens of MSSA were all negative. One specimen identified as MRSA by susceptibility testing but PBP2' negative by latex agglutination was confirmed as mecA gene negative by PCR. This simple and rapid slide latex reagent should be useful in clinical diagnostics.