The research included evaluation of express-diagnosis capability of immunochromatographic assay (ICA) Binax NOW (Alere, Inc., USA) for diagnosis of the rhinosinusitis caused by to detect the Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen directly in clinical samples. The unique feature of the method included obtaining samples with an electric suction machine in order to evaluate aspirate from deep parts of the nasal cavity. Diagnostic capability of the Binax NOW was determined in a comparative study using classical bacteriological method in 100 clinical samples. Pneumococcus was isolated in 16 patients (16±3,7%) via bacteriological method. ICA utilization allowed to reveal pneumococcal antigen in 20 cases (20±4,0%). ICA test sensitivity equaled 87,5%, specificity - 92,9%. Obtained results allow us to recommend ICA for identification of pneumococcal infection in patients with sinusitis for practicing physicians. The advantages of the evaluated method were fast results (for up to 15 min) and possibility of non-invasive sampling technique of clinical specimens.
Keywords: express-diagnosis; immunochromatographic assay Binax NOW; nasopharyngeal aspirate; pneumococcal infection; rhinosinusitis.