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Test ID: SABP    
Streptococcal Antibodies Profile


Demonstration of acute or recent streptococcal infection


A number of bacterial antigens have been identified in cultures of group A streptococci. These extracellular products are primarily enzymatic proteins and include streptolysin O, streptokinase, hyaluronidase, deoxyribonucleases (DNases A, B, C, and D), and nicotinamide adenine nucleotidase.


Infections by the group A streptococci are unique because they can be followed by the serious nonpurulent complications of rheumatic fever and glomerulonephritis. Recent information suggests that rheumatic fever is associated with infection by certain rheumatogenic serotypes (M1, M3, M5, M6, M18, and M19), while glomerulonephritis follows infection by nephritogenic serotypes (M2, M12, M49, M57, M59, and M60).


Glomerulonephritis and rheumatic fever occur following the infection, after a period of latency following the infection, during which the patient is asymptomatic. The latency period for glomerulonephritis is approximately 10 days, and for rheumatic fever the latency period is 20 days.



<5 years: < or =70 IU/mL

5-17 years: < or =640 IU/mL

> or =18 years: < or =530 IU/mL



<5 years: < or =250 U/mL

5-17 years: < or =375 U/mL


Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

Elevated values are consistent with an antecedent infection by group A streptococci.


Although the antistreptolysin O (ASO) test is quite reliable, performing the anti-DNase is justified for 2 primary reasons. First, the ASO response is not universal. Elevated ASO titers are found in the sera of about 85% of individuals with rheumatic fever; ASO titers remain normal in about 15% of individuals with the disease. The same holds true for other streptococcal antibody tests: a significant portion of individuals with normal antibody titers for 1 test will have elevated antibody titers for another test. Thus, the percentage of false-negatives can be reduced by performing 2 or more antibody tests. Second, skin infections, in contrast to throat infections, are associated with a poor ASO response. Patients with acute glomerulonephritis following skin infection (post-impetigo) have an attenuated immune response to streptolysin O. For such patients, performance of an alternative streptococcal antibody test such as anti-DNase B is recommended.


The use of the antistreptolysin O (ASO) for the diagnosis of an acute group A streptococcal infection is rarely indicated, unless the patient has received antibiotics that would render the culture negative. There are certain limitations to the use of the ASO test in these circumstances due to the delay and attenuation of the immune response following early antibiotic therapy.


False-high titers may be obtained with sera that are contaminated by certain bacterial organisms during shipment or storage and in patients with liver disease where the presence of high lipoprotein concentrations in the serum may mimic antibody activity.


Ayoub EM, Harden E: Immune response to streptococcal antigens: diagnostic methods. In Manual of Clinical and Laboratory Immunology. Fifth edition. Edited by NR Rose, EC de Marco, JD Folds, et al. Washington, DC, ASM Press, 1997, pp 450-457