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The BBL™ Pneumoslide™ Test is a serologic latex slide agglutination method for the qualitative detection of capsular antigens of Streptococcus pneumoniae directly from isolated colonies or pure cultures from liquid nutrient broth. Visible agglutination occurs when the S. pneumoniae capsular antigen reacts with the antibody-coated latex beads.

Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus), a normal inhabitant of the human upper respiratory tract, is one of the major causative agents of bacterial pneumonia, meningitis, bacteremia and otitis media in the U.S.^1,2 Despite the availability of effective antimicrobial therapy, S. pneumoniae has been implicated in infections of debilitated patients with alarming severity and case fatality. Worldwide emergence of penicillin and multiple-drug resistant strains has made accurate and rapid identification of pneumococcal isolates more important.³

The traditional methods for identification of S. pneumoniae are presumptive procedures based on Gram stain reaction, alpha-hemolysis, optochin susceptibility, and bile solubility. Identification of streptococci directly from blood cultures has also been evaluated.⁴ Tentatively identified pneumococcal isolates can be confirmed by serological methodology using Neufeld's quellung reaction with polyvalent antiserum.⁵ The latex agglutination procedure permits a simple and more rapid serological identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates for the clinical laboratory.

The Pneumoslide Polyvalent Positive Control should be tested with each batch of specimens.

The positive latex reagent will yield strong agglutination within 2 to 3 minutes. The negative control latex reagent should remain homogeneous; i.e., no agglutination.

Periodically check latex reagents for auto-agglutination by testing one drop of the latex reagents with one drop of 0.85% sodium chloride solution. Positive and negative latex reagents should exhibit no agglutination greater than a trace amount of graininess.

Periodically check latex reagents for performance by testing cultures of known pneumococci and viridans streptococci in parallel with test specimens.

NOTE: Do not use the test reagents if appropriate positive and negative control results are not obtained.

Pneumoslide Streptococcus pneumoniae Antibody-Coated Latex Bead Suspension (2.5 mL) is a 1% suspension of latex beads with rabbit antibody specific for S. pneumoniae capsular antigens in glycine buffer with MIT/BND as a preservative.

Pneumoslide Polyvalent Positive Control is a lyophilized preparation of an extract of polyvalent capsular polysaccharide antigens of S. pneumoniae with MIT/BND as a preservative.

Pneumoslide™ Latex Negative Control (2.5 mL) is a 1% suspension of latex beads coated with normal rabbit immunoglobulins in glycine buffer with MIT/BND as a preservative.

Stirring sticks (50) and Glass Slide (1).

For in vitro Diagnostic Use.

Do not use test components beyond expiration date.

Do not interchange reagents from different kit lots.

Observe established precautions against microbiological hazards throughout all procedures. After use, specimen containers and other contaminated materials must be sterilized by autoclaving. Directions for use should be followed carefully.