The detection of enterotoxin and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 production by strains of Staphylococcus aureus with commercial RPLA kits.

Two reversed passive latex agglutination kits (SET-RPLA and TST-RPLA) were used to detect enterotoxin and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) production by 334 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from clinical sources and from outbreaks of food poisoning. The results were compared to those obtained with the traditional gel diffusion method. All strains positive by gel diffusion were also positive by RPLA. Seventeen strains produced low levels of TSST-1 or enterotoxins C or D which were only detected by the RPLA method. Some non-specific reactions were obtained with the SET-RPLA kit, but not with the TST-RPLA kit.