Code: DR0420

The Oxoid Dryspot Pneumo Test is a latex agglutination test for the detection of capsular antigen from Streptococcus pneumoniae to provide rapid identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from culture plates and blood culture.

Introduction
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a primary cause of bacterial pneumonia, meningitis and otitis media. The anti-phagocytic properties of the polysaccharide capsule are the key to the organism’s virulence¹. The organism may harmlessly inhabit the upper respiratory tract but may also gain access to the lungs by aspiration where it may establish an acute pneumonia. In addition, this organism also accesses the blood stream and the meninges to cause acute, purulent life-threatening infections².
The Oxoid Dryspot Pneumo Test uses antibody sensitised blue latex particles dried onto cards covering most of the recognised serological types of pneumococci^3,4. The latex will agglutinate in the presence of sufficient antigen to form visible clumps. This test provides a fast and simple screening procedure for Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Components of the kit
DR0421 Dryspot Pneumo Test Reagent Cards.
Blue latex particles coated with rabbit antibodies specifically reactive with the recognised serological types of pneumococci and dried onto cards (Test Reaction Area).
Blue latex particles sensitised with non-reactive globulin (Control Reaction Area).
Two pouches each containing 10 cards and a moisture absorbent sachet. There are 3 Test Reaction Areas and 3 Control Reaction Areas on each card – 60 tests in total.
DR0422 Positive Control Strips (20 sticks – pink spots).
Pink dyed inactivated antigenic extract of Streptococcus pneumoniae.
DR0423 Negative Control Strips (20 sticks – green spots).
Green dyed inactivated extract of Aerococcus viridans.
Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS)
pH 7.3 ± 0.1. Contains 0.095% sodium azide as a preservative.
Mixing paddles.
Instruction leaflet.
2 x Clips for sealing pouches.

Materials required but not provided
Sterile microbiological loop.
Laboratory disinfectant e.g. Sodium hypochlorite solution >1.3% w/v.
Laboratory Centrifuge.

Precautions
This product is for in vitro diagnostic use only.
Specimen materials may contain pathogenic organisms, handle with appropriate precautions.
Sodium azide may react with lead and copper plumbing to form highly explosive metal azides. If reagents containing sodium azide are disposed of in a sink, they should be flushed with plenty of water to prevent build up of metal azides.

Storage and Opening
The kit must be stored between 2- 25°C. If stored in a cold environment, allow pouches to reach room temperature before opening to prevent condensation of moisture on the cards. The Dryspot reagents will deteriorate and may give false results if they are allowed to absorb moisture.
Once opened, remove the number of cards required for immediate testing (testing within the next 10 minutes) and re-seal
the pouch immediately by clamping the open end of the bag between the two halves of the plastic clip provided.
The Control Sticks are also provided in a moisture-impermeable pouch. Ensure that the same techniques are used to avoid moisture damage.
The kit should not be used beyond the expiry date printed on the outside of the carton.

References
1. Kalin, M. (1998). Thorax 53: 159–162.
2. Feldman, C. and Klugman, K. (1997). Current opinions in Infectious Diseases 10: 109–115.
3. Henrichsen, J. (1995). J. Clin. Microbiol. 33: 2759–2762.
4. Lee, P. and Wetherall, B.L. (1987). J. Clin. Microbiol. 25: 152–153.
5. Miller, M. M and Holmes, H. T. (1999). In Manual of Clinical Microbiology. Murray, P. R., Baron, E. J., Pfaller, M. A., Tenover, F. C. and Yolken, R. H. (ed) Seventh Edition. p. 33–63. American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.
6. Cowan, S. T. and Steel, K. J. (1965). Characters of Gram-positive bacteria. In Manual for the identification of Medical Bacteria. Barrow, G. I. and Feltham, R. K. A. (ed) Third Edition. p. 50–90. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, U.K.
7. Kilpper-Bälz, R., Wenzig, P. and Schleifer, K. H. (1985). Int. J. System. Bacterial. 35: 482–488.
8. Lund, E. and Henrichsen, J. (1978). Chapter XI : 241–262. Methods in Microbiology XII, ed. Bergan and Norris, Academic Press, Orlando.
9. Data on file, Oxoid.