Description
The group A-hemolytic streptococci produces various toxins
that can act as antigens. One of these exotoxins streptolysin-O,
wasdiscovered by Todd in 1932.
A person infected with group A-hemolytic streptococci
produces specific antibodies against these exotoxins, one of
which is antistreptolysin-O. The quantity of this antibody in a
patient’s serum will establish the degree of infection due to the-hemolytic streptococcal.
The usual procedure for the determination of the
antistreptolysin titer is based on the inhibitory effect that the
patient’s serum produces on the hemolytic power of a
pretitrated and reduced streptolysin-O. However, the antigen
antibody reaction occurs independently of the hemolytic
activity
of streptolysin-O. This property enables the
establishment of a qualitative and quantitative test for the
determination of the antistreptolysin-O by agglutination of
latex particles on slide.
