Oxoid offers a range of kits for the detection of bacterial toxins, including the staphylococcal exotoxins that are primarily responsible for toxic shock syndrome.
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare, but potentially fatal condition, usually caused by exotoxin-producing strains of Staphylococcus aureus.
The predominant staphylococcal exotoxins that are responsible for TSS are toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1), in about 75 percent of cases, and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), in about 25 percent of cases.
The identification of Staphylococcus aureus alone is not sufficient to attribute a case of TSS, since there are strains of Staphylococcus aureus that are not toxin-producing.
However, it is possible to confirm a clinical diagnosis by detecting the production of toxin in isolated strains.
TSS 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.
Oxoid 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 microtitre plates, a positive result is indicated by the formation of a clearly visible lattice structure.
In the absence of target antigen, the latex particles settle in a tight button in the bottom of the well.
