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J Clin Pathol 2008;61:866-868 doi:10.1136/jcp.2008.055681
  • Short report

The combined oxacillin resistance and coagulase (CORC) test for rapid identification and prediction of oxacillin resistance in Staphylococcus species directly from blood culture

  1. B E Carey,
  2. L Nicol
  1. Department of Microbiology, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
  1. Dr B E Carey, Department of Microbiology, Waterford Regional Hospital, Dunmore Road, Waterford, Ireland; bryanc1007{at}hotmail.com
  • Accepted 13 March 2008
  • Published Online First 1 April 2008

Abstract

The combined oxacillin resistance and coagulase (CORC) protocol for rapid identification and determination of oxacillin-susceptibility in Staphylococcus spp from blood culture is described. It incorporates a modified direct tube coagulase test (TCT) and a novel 4-hour multiplication-induction step, which increases the expression of staphylococcal PBP2a if present, facilitating detection by a commercial PBP2a latex agglutination kit. The protocol shows excellent sensitivity and specificity for determination of coagulase-positivity in staphylococci from patient blood cultures (96.8% (95% CI 81.5 to 99.8) and 100% (95% CI 75.9 to 100), respectively, n = 47), and for prediction of oxacillin resistance in S aureus directly from patient blood cultures (100% (95% CI 59.8 to 100) and 100% (95% CI 82.2 to 100), respectively (100% accuracy), n = 31) within 5 hours of blood culture positivity.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Funding: NHS Scotland provided consumables.

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