Interpreting a single antistreptolysin o test: A comparison of the "upper limit of normal" and likelihood ratio methods

Gregory C. Gray, Jeffery P. Struewing, Kenneth C. Hyams, Joel Escamilla, Alan K. Tupponce, Edward L. Kaplan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

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 judgment, and better emphasized the caution clinicians must use in interpreting a single ASO test.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1181-1185
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Clinical Epidemiology
Volume46
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1993
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Antistreptolysin O
  • Infection
  • Likelihood ratio
  • Rheumatic fever
  • Streptococcus pyogenes
  • Upper limit of normal

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology

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