The CHROMagar™ Strep Α used for the Identification of Group A Streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes) in pharyngeal specimens.
The infection from Streptococcus pyogenes is responsible for almost all Streptococci that cause bacterial pharyngitis, and therefore the specific target of Group A Streptococcus diagnostic methods.
Patients are usually tested for the presence of GAS (Group A Streptococcus) using antigen detection tests that provide results in 15-20 minutes, but with a positive predictive value of ~70-90% and a false negative rate of ~10-20%. However, throat culture is mainly used as a confirmatory test with definitive results requiring 24 hours.
