Latex slide agglutination test for the differentation of staphylococci that possess clumping factor and/or protein A, usually present with Staphylococci aureus.

The five-step procedure takes only 60 seconds and requires no equipment or instrumentation. The kit includes all necessary reagents, disposable test cards, and a workstation.

The kit utilizes blue polystyrene latex particles that have been sensitized with fibrinogen and IgG. When Staphylococcal colonies which possess bound coagulase (clumping factor) and / or protein A are mixed with the latex reagent, the latex particles will agglutinate strongly within 20 seconds.

Staphylococcus species are common inhabitants of the skin and mucous membranes, certain species have been found frequently as etiological agents of a variety of human and animal infections. Superficial suppurative infections caused by them are the most common human staphylococcal infections. Food poisoning, septicemia, toxic shock syndrome and many other conditions are caused by them. Rapid slide agglutination tests have been shown to be a reliable method
for the identification of them in the routine bacteriological laboratory.