The Diagnostic Value of Antistreptolysin “O” Test in Streptococcal Infection

Abstract

Streptococcal infections are of paramount public health concern affecting children and adults resulting in further in fatal consequences. Hence their rapid and accurate diagnosis is required. Antistreptolysin O (ASO) test measures the amount of streptolysin O in the blood. This study was conducted in the Research Laboratory, Sudan University of Science and Technology during the period between from May to August 2012. The study was designed to assess the diagnostic value of ASO test in diagnosis of streptococcal infections. A total of 100 throat swabs and 100 blood samples were collected from patients suspected of having throat infection. For blood samples ASO test was done qualitative and semi quantitative and swabs samples were inoculated on bacteriological media for primary isolation and processed for identification of the causative clinical agents using cultural characteristics and biochemical tests. The result showed that 36% of patients were positive for ASO test while culturing of swabs produced 30% positives, 33% of the positive swabs culture had high ASO titers. The most affected gender was the females aged between 2-15 years old. ‫‪The study concluded that ASO test was useful and rapid in detecting‬‬ ‫‪streptococcal acute or post-streptococcal infections but its more‬‬ ‫‪valuable in the latter. However further research work is needed to‬‬ ‫‪elucidate the problem and improve the diagnosis of these virulent‬‬ ‫.‪pathogens‬‬