STREP A

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STREP A Test

At-home test for Group A Streptococcus (scarlet fever)

Streptococcus pyogenes is a Gram-positive, nonmotile coccus that can colonise various parts of the human body and cause serious infections. Group A beta-haemolytic streptococci (Streptococcus pyogenes) are the main cause of upper respiratory infections such as tonsillitis, pharyngitis, and other respiratory infections.

If left untreated, these infections can lead to serious complications, including rheumatic fever and peritonsillar abscess. Early diagnosis and treatment of group A streptococcal pharyngitis has been shown to reduce the severity of symptoms and additional complications, such as rheumatic fever and glomerulonephritis. Traditional methods of detecting Streptococcus A infections depend on the isolation and subsequent identification of the organism and often take 24-48 hours.

The Group A Streptococcus rapid test provides a result within 15 minutes. The test uses antibodies specific for whole cells of Lancefield Group A Streptococcus to sensitively detect Strep A antigens in throat swab samples.

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Strep A Test

How to test yourself

Collect a throat swab specimen with the swab included in the kit. Collect the specimen from the back of the pharynx, tonsils, and other inflamed areas. Avoid touching the tongue, cheeks, and teeth with the swab.
Add 4 drops (~240µL) of extraction buffer 1 to the empty tube.
Add 4 drops (~160µL) of extraction buffer 2 to the tube where extraction buffer 1 has been added. Mix the solution by gently shaking the tube.
Extraction buffer 1 has a red colour. Extraction buffer 2 is colourless. Adding Buffer 2 to Buffer 1 will change the colour of the solution from red to yellow.
Immediately place the swab in the tube, rotate the swab 15 times in the solution, and keep it in the tube for 1 minute. Press the swab against the tube as you remove it to keep as much liquid inside as possible. Discard the used swab.
Place the dropper on the tube. Add 3 drops of the solution (about 100 μL) to the sample well of the test cassette and start the timer. Read the results in exactly 5 minutes. Do not interpret results after 10 minutes or more.