Evaluation of the immunochromatographic Binax NOW assay for detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae urinary antigen in a prospective study of community-acquired pneumonia in Spain

Clin Infect Dis. 2003 Feb 1;36(3):286-92. doi: 10.1086/345852. Epub 2003 Jan 15.

Abstract

We evaluated the Binax NOW rapid immunochromatographic membrane test (ICT) for detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae urinary antigen in a population-based prospective study of adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). ICT was performed with urine samples obtained from 452 (91.7%) of 493 patients enrolled. Pneumococcal antigen was detected in 19 (70.4%) of 27 patients with pneumococcal pneumonia. The test results were more frequently positive for patients who had not received antibiotics before testing (26.6% vs. 12.1%; P=.002). Only 16 (10.3%) of 156 samples obtained from patients with nonpneumococcal pneumonia yielded a positive result. Of the 269 patients who had pneumonia with no pathogen identified, antigen was detected in 69 (25.7%). With conventional microbiological criteria used as the "gold standard," the test had a sensitivity of 70.4% and a specificity of 89.7%. Testing concentrated urine samples with the ICT may be a useful technique for rapid diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia in adults with CAP.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antigens, Bacterial / urine*
  • Chromatography
  • Community-Acquired Infections / epidemiology
  • Community-Acquired Infections / microbiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / microbiology*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic*
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / isolation & purification*

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic