Interpreting a Single Antistreptolysin O Test: A Comparison of the Upper Limit of Normal and Likelihood Ratio Methods
Abstract
Single serologic tests may occasionally influence clinicians in making diagnoses. The antistreptolysin O (ASO) test is a frequently used tool for detecting recent Streptococcus pyogenes infection and is helpful in the diagnosis of diseases like rheumatic fever. Using data from a 1989 prospective study of 600 healthy male military recruits, in which 43% experienced S. pyogenes upper respiratory tract infection (2-dilution rise in ASO), this report compared two methods of interpreting a single ASO titer. Using the 'upper limit of normal' (80 percentile) method, recruits with an ASO titer of greater than 400 showed evidence of recent S. pyogenes infection. This method had a sensitivity and specificity of only 65.9 and 81.9% respectively. In contrast to the 'yes-no' dichotomy of the 'upper limit of normal' method, the likelihood ratio method statistics were ASO value specific, more consistent with clinical judgement, and better emphasized the caution clinicians must use in interpreting a single ASO test
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA279323
Entities
People
- Alan K. Tupponce
- Gregory C. Gray
- Jeffrey P. Struewing
- Joel Escamilla
- Kenneth C. Hyams
Organizations
- Naval Medical Research Center