Kits Detect Dangerous Staphylococcal Exotoxins

A range of kits is available to detect bacterial exotoxins, including staphylococcal exotoxins that are primarily responsible for toxic shock syndrome (TSS).

Although TSS is relatively rare, it can be fatal. Generally caused by staphylococcus exotoxins, about 75% are caused by toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) and 25% caused by staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB). Menstruating women, women using barrier contraceptive devices, postoperative patients, and burns patients are the most likely to suffer from TSS.

Some strains of Staphylococcus aureus do not produce toxins; therefore, the identification of S. aureus is not sufficient to attribute a case of TSS. But it is possible to confirm a clinical diagnosis by detecting the production of toxin in isolated strains. Oxoid (Basingstoke, UK) offers a range of kits for the detection of bacterial toxins, including the staphylococcal exotoxins. Toxic shock syndrome toxins can be detected reliably by reversed passive latex agglutination (RPLA) using Oxoid TST-RPLA (TD0940) for the detection of TSST-1 and Oxoid SET-RPLA (TD0900) for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B, C, and D.

The RPLA toxin detection kits allow the presence of soluble antigen, such as bacterial toxins, to be detected visually by the agglutination of antibody-coated latex particles. Performed in V-well µl plates, a positive result is indicated by the formation of a clearly visible lattice structure. In the absence of a target antigen, the latex particles settle in a tight button in the bottom of the well.

Julie Elston, applications manager, clinical markets, Oxoid, commented, "Oxoid RPLA toxin detection kits allow clinical laboratories to detect bacterial toxins without the need for complicated equipment or special expertise. This could be of great value in determining the cause of toxic shock syndrome and may help in making therapeutic decisions as a wider choice of treatments become available.”

Oxoid is part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (Louchborough, UK).

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