[The clinical use of latex tests. I. Comparison of hemolytic and latex methods in the evaluation of the antistreptolysin antibody titer].

The TAS of 211 normo lipemic patients and of 84 hyperlipemic patients has been determined by the tube dilution hemolysis method of Rantz and Randall, the Aso Quantum hemolytic method (I.S.V.T. "Sclavo" S.p.A., Siena) and methods with streptolysin O antigen coated on the surface of biologically inert latex particles. A good correlation has been shown between all the analytical techniques considered and, moreover, the incidence of wrong positives and negatives has been showed in comparison with the hemolytic method by Rantz and Randall, considered test of reference. Finally, the greater influence of cholesterol on the classic hemolytic system, compared with the latex technique in causing an unspecific increase of TAS is proposed; this is evaluated before and after treatment of the hyperlipemic samples with ether.