Brandon L.

Lee MTEC 205

August 12, 2010 Anti-Streptolysin O Titer

Results:

Table 1. Result for ASOT

Type of Test Result
Qualitative Negative: no agglutination is
observed.
Semi-quantitative Negative: no agglutination
observed.

Discussion:

The anti-streptolysin O titer is the test used to

diagnose streptococcal infection in the body particularly the
strain S. pyogenes.According to the Wikipedia(N.D.) “The ASOT
helps direct the antimicrobial treatment and is used to assist
in the diagnosis of scarlet fever, rheumatic fever and post
infectious glomerulonephritis.”

1. Referring to Wikipedia(N.D.) there are different factors

that may cause a false positive result, namely:

Table 2. Factors of false positive result in aSO assay

Tuberculosis Microbial contamination of the
serum with Bacillus and
Pseudomonas, presence of these
could still trigger aSO
antibodies react and act upon
it.
Liver Disease Malfunction causes
malabsorption of fats makes
the blood specimen from which
serum was obtained chylous.
Lapsed Time Delayed readings(after 2
minutes) may cause
agglutination leading to a
false positive result.
Lipemia This may cause non specific
agglutination. Both elevated
Beta-lipoprotein and
cholesterol level can
neutralize the ASOT.

2. There is a popular saying that goes “Time is gold.”

Basing on this proverb, time really affects the result of the
ASOT because prolonged exposed readings may cause
agglutination after more than 2 minutes. It causes a false
positive which is very erroneous against the health of the
individual.

Also, according to Turgeon M.L.(N.D.) “A patient may

demonstrate an elevated antibody titer for up to a year of
infection.” Through this explanation, previous exposure to
Streptococcus may trigger the titer to increase even it
occurred the previous times. Time determines and holds the
result.

3. The sensitivity and specificity of the aSO assay is very

vital because it determines the result which affects the
diagnosis of the doctor to the patient. Kaplan E.L. And Huew
B.B. suggests that

“In patients with group A streptococci isolated from

the upper respiratory tract, the quantitative
sensitivity of the antibody response as measured by the
Streptozyme test is comparable to, but no greater than,
the ASO or anti-DNase B tests.”

According to Blyth C.C. And Robertson P.W. “The

combination of ASO and ADNaseB was the most sensitive and
specific combination for identifying post‐streptococcal
disease (sensitivity 95.5%, specificity 88.6%).”

Another citation made by the same author above says, “A

combination of ASO and ADNaseB is required in post‐
streptococcal disease to achieve maximum sensitivity and
specificity.”

Referring to what they have said, aSO assay is sensitive

and specific enough to determine and imply streptococcal
infections. Through this diagnosis, rheumatic heart disease
and and glomerulonephritis could be avoided because
Streptococcal infections could be deviated or avoided. It is
because that untreated Strep throats may induce more humungous
complications such as the rheumatic heart disease and
glomerulonephritis. According to dela Rama(2008) “It is
because that the bacteria itself migrated downwards infesting
the heart and it's tissues causing 'Progressive damage to the
heart valves.'” In addition to what she has stated, she also
portrayed that “It may also be carried through circualting
immune complexes in the body depositing it in the glomerulus
causing complement fixation, damaging the glomerulus leading
to the impariment of kidney function.”

Other streptococcal infections such as pharyngitis,

peritonitis and cellulitis also could be managed in detected
through the aSO assay. It's high sensitivity and specificity
would proudly detect the presence of the Streptococci giving
us the idea of it's presence and act on immediate cure
procedures to prevent it's proliferation and manage it's
elimination.

Conclusion:
Nowadays, soar throat has been very common among people
and “Strep Throat” has often been mistaken as the like. It has
been taken for granted leading it to much more virulent
diseases and much more complications.

But now, they have derived an assay for detecting the

strain of the said disease to prevent further proliferation
which is the aSOT. In the laboratory experiment, it was done
but we had a few mistakes since, in the semi-quantitative
method we were confused of the procedure leading for a mistake
in the test. But we repeated the procedure and achieved our
exact result with accuracy and precision on our side

The results would be positive or negative of

agglutination for both qualitative and semi-quantitative
tests. For the positive result in both tests, we could see
that the patient is having fever, inflammed throat and
tonsils, we could see that the throat when examined is
portraying white spots. For the negative result in both tests,
the patient is carrying out normal body functions and
metabolism, nothing significant to the relevance of
Streptococcus infection, or they may have a “Soar Throat” but
not “Strep Throat.”

If it is to be performed independently, our mentor could

rely on us that we are doing the exact thing with respect to
the mistake we made, the assurance given is higly expected
because the common mistake could be easily determined and
revoked to prevent further false results.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antistreptolysin_O_titre,
retrieved on August 11, 2010.

http://lib.bioinfo.pl/meid:181997, retrieved on August 11,

2010.

http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00313020600557060
, retrieved on August 11, 2010.

dela Rama A.J.(2008) Bacteriology notes.

Turgeon, ML(2009). Immunology and Serology in Laboratory

Medicine 4th ed. Elsevier Singapore