Streptococcus pyogenes or Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a pathogenic bacteria that causes both invasive and non-invasive infections resulting in mild to severe life-threatening disease.

Laboratory guidelines mandate that a more sensitive confirmatory test is performed on negative rapid antigen samples. However, routine culture detection of the organism can take an additional 24-48 hours. As an alternative, rapid molecular testing for Group A Strep can offer a faster and more efficient method for confirmation, contributing to the accelerated treatment of the patient.

During this presentation you will learn how our laboratory implemented a rapid, automated highthroughput method for molecular confirmation of rapid antigen negatives. The advantages of moving this assay from culture to molecular in terms of workflow and increased sensitivity will be discussed.