Performance characteristics and clinical predictive value of the string test for detection of hepato-virulent Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from blood cultures.

This study evaluated the phenotypic string test for identifying Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteraemic isolates associated with primary liver abscess. Test reproducibility and repeatability exceeded 95%, with varying sensitivity (66-90%) and specificity (64-67%) depending on cut-off values. The positive predictive value of a positive string test for identifying hepato-virulent isolates was <35%.