Spectrum Bias of a Rapid Antigen Detection Test for Group A β-Hemolytic Streptococcal Pharyngitis in a Pediatric Population

Abstract

The sensitivity of RADT for GABHS pharyngitis is not a fixed value but varies with the severity of disease. However, even among pediatric patients with > or =3 Centor criteria for GABHS pharyngitis, the sensitivity of RADT is still too low to support the use of RADT without culture confirmation of negative results.