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A multiplex-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to detect staphylococcal enterotoxin production by 12 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from clinical specimens. To evaluate the efficacy and/or sensitivity of this method, the results were compared to those obtained with the reversed passive latex agglutination kit (SET-RPLA, Denka Seiken, Japan). Of 10 strains positive by PCR were positive by RPLA but two strains, representing high sensitivity of the former method. Enterotoxin B was the most prevalent by the two methods. The kappa index between the two methods was 0.826, indicating a higher agreement and fully reliable for use. These results would suggest that sensitive, inexpensive, and relatively rapid multiplex-PCR technique may be an effective means for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin genes as an alternative to traditional methods such as kits or immunological methods, which depend upon the amount of enterotoxin produced.
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