Strep B Carrot Broth™ Kit is a selective and differential medium which is intended for the detection of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) from anovaginal specimens collected from pregnant women. The medium is used as an aid in the qualitative determination of GBS colonization in pregnant women. The color change reaction from white to orange is representative of a positive result for presence of GBS. The medium requires 24 hours of incubation but positive results can be interpreted and reported as early as 16 hours. Due to the properties of Strep B Carrot Broth™ Kit, non-hemolytic GBS cannot be detected by the medium’s color change and require subculture for identification. Any presumptive negative indicated by lack of color change at the end of the incubation period must be subcultured to a non-selective medium (e.g., Tryptic Soy Agar with 5% Sheep Blood) to confirm absence of GBS. Subculture must also be performed to recover isolates for conducting susceptibility testing as recommended for penicillin-allergic women.
Device Story
Strep B Carrot Broth Kit is a selective and differential culture medium for detecting Group B Streptococcus (GBS) in pregnant women. Input: anovaginal swabs. Operation: swabs are inoculated directly into the broth and incubated aerobically at 35-37°C for 16-24 hours. The medium contains selective agents to suppress non-GBS flora and substrates (starch, peptone, serum, folate pathway inhibitors) that trigger a color change (white to orange/red-orange) in the presence of β-hemolytic GBS. Output: visual color change indicates presumptive positive; lack of color requires subculture to non-selective media (e.g., Tryptic Soy Agar with 5% Sheep Blood) for confirmation and susceptibility testing. Used in clinical microbiology laboratories by trained personnel. Benefits: rapid presumptive identification of GBS colonization, aiding clinical management of pregnant patients.
Clinical Evidence
Clinical study evaluated 771 compliant vaginal/rectal swabs from pregnant women across four sites. Performance compared to Reference Culture Method (LIM Broth followed by subculture and biochemical identification). For the combined method (Carrot Broth + subculture), sensitivity was 98.8% (95% CI: 95.6%-99.7%) and specificity was 97.9% (95% CI: 96.4%-98.7%). For color-based detection alone, sensitivity was 87.7% (95% CI: 81.8%-91.9%) and specificity was 98.8% (95% CI: 97.6%-99.4%).
Technological Characteristics
Selective/differential liquid culture medium; contains starch and folate pathway inhibitors for chromogenic detection of beta-hemolytic GBS; manual visual interpretation; requires 16-24 hour incubation; compatible with various transport systems (Amies/Stuart's); non-automated.
Indications for Use
Indicated for the qualitative detection of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization in pregnant women using anovaginal specimens. Contraindicated for direct detection of non-hemolytic GBS via color change; requires subculture for confirmation.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A selective culture medium is a device that consists primarily of liquid or solid biological materials intended for medical purposes to cultivate and identify certain pathogenic microorganisms. The device contains one or more components that suppress the growth of certain microorganisms while either promoting or not affecting the growth of other microorganisms. The device aids in the diagnosis of disease caused by pathogenic microorganisms and also provides epidemiological information on these diseases.
K170586 — Strep B Carrot Broth One-Step · Hardy Diagnostics · May 22, 2017
K173903 — Granada Medium · Hardy Diagnostics · Mar 22, 2018
K163042 — chromID Strepto B agar · bioMerieux, Inc. · Jan 27, 2017
Submission Summary (Full Text)
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# 510(k) SUBSTANTIAL EQUIVALENCE DETERMINATION DECISION SUMMARY ASSAY ONLY TEMPLATE
A. 510(k) Number:
K170481
B. Purpose for Submission:
To obtain a substantial equivalence determination for Strep B Carrot Broth Kit for the qualitative detection of Group B Streptococcus (GBS)
C. Measurand:
Group B Streptococcus (GBS)
D. Type of Test:
Detection of GBS using a selective and differential chromogenic medium
E. Applicant:
Hardy Diagnostics
F. Proprietary and Established Names:
Strep B Carrot Broth™ Kit
G. Regulatory Information:
1. Regulation section:
21 CFR 866.2360
2. Classification:
Class I (non-exempt)
3. Product code:
PQZ
4. Panel:
Microbiology (83)
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H. Intended Use:
1. Intended use(s):
Strep B Carrot Broth™ Kit is a selective and differential medium which is intended for the detection of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) from anovaginal specimens collected from pregnant women. The medium is used as an aid in the qualitative determination of GBS colonization in pregnant women. The color change reaction from white to orange is representative of a positive result for presence of GBS. The medium requires 24 hours of incubation but positive results can be interpreted and reported as early as 16 hours. Due to the properties of Strep B Carrot Broth™ Kit, non-hemolytic GBS cannot be detected by the medium’s color change and require subculture for identification. Any presumptive negative indicated by lack of color change at the end of the incubation period must be subcultured to a non-selective medium (e.g., Tryptic Soy Agar with 5% Sheep Blood) to confirm absence of GBS. Subculture must also be performed to recover isolates for conducting susceptibility testing as recommended for penicillin-allergic women.
2. Indication(s) for use:
Same as the Intended Use.
3. Special conditions for use statement(s):
Prescription Use only
Strep B Carrot Broth Kit culture with no color change after 24 hrs incubation is considered presumptive negative for GBS and must be subcultured to non-selective media followed by biochemical testing to rule-out presence of weakly β-hemolytic or non-hemolytic GBS.
Storage of vaginal/rectal swabs in the specified specimen transport systems beyond 24 hrs at room temperature before inoculating Strep B Carrot Broth Kit is not recommended.
4. Special instrument requirements:
Not Applicable
I. Device Description:
Strep B Carrot Broth Kit is a selective and differential medium used for the detection of Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae, GBS) colonization in pregnant women by testing vaginal/rectal swabs. Color development (light orange, orange, or red-orange color) is a unique characteristic of β-hemolytic GBS strains resulting from colored pigment production in the presence of substrates such as starch, peptone, serum, and folate pathway inhibitors.
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Non-hemolytic GBS cannot be detected by color production, but can be recovered from Strep B Carrot Broth Kit upon subculture to non-selective plates. Growth of microorganisms belonging to other species is either inhibited, or if there is growth, the culture does not produce the expected color reaction.
## J. Substantial Equivalence Information:
1. Predicate device name(s):
LIM Broth
2. Predicate 510(k) number(s):
K871447
3. Comparison with predicate:
| Similarities | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Item | Strep B Carrot Broth Kit (K170481) | LIM Broth (K871447) |
| Intended Use | Strep B Carrot Broth™ Kit is a selective and differential medium which is intended for the detection of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) from anovaginal specimens collected from pregnant women. The medium is used as an aid in the qualitative determination of GBS colonization in pregnant women. The color change reaction from white to orange is representative of a positive result for presence of GBS. The medium requires 24 hours of incubation but positive results can be interpreted and reported as early as 16 hours. Due to the properties of Strep B Carrot Broth™ Kit, non-hemolytic GBS cannot be detected by the medium’s color change and require subculture for identification. Any presumptive negative indicated by lack of color change at the end of the incubation period must be subcultured to a non-selective medium (e.g., Tryptic Soy Agar with 5% Sheep Blood) to confirm absence of GBS. Subculture | Product is used in qualitative procedures to isolate Group B Streptococci from clinical specimens containing mixed bacterial flora. |
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| Similarities | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Item | Strep B Carrot Broth Kit (K170481) | LIM Broth (K871447) |
| | must also be performed to recover isolates for conducting susceptibility testing as recommended for penicillin-allergic women. | |
| Specimen Type | Vaginal/rectal swabs | Vaginal/rectal swabs |
| Inoculation | Direct | Direct |
| Interpretation | Manual/visual, subculture negatives for confirmation and subculture positives as needed for susceptibility testing | Manual/visual, subculture all to recover colonies for complete identification and susceptibility |
| Culture Media Type | Selective media | Selective media |
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| Differences | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Item | Strep B Carrot Broth Kit (K170481) | LIM Broth (K871447) |
| Culture Media Type | Differential media (Chromogenic) | No chromogenic substrates |
| Interpretation | Light orange to orange color indicative of GBS, subculture negatives to rule-out weakly β-hemolytic and non-hemolytic GBS | Subculture enriched culture to non-selective media to identify GBS |
## K. Standard/Guidance Document Referenced (if applicable):
Not Applicable
## L. Test Principle:
Strep B Carrot Broth Kit is a selective, differential medium for the detection of GBS. The ability to detect GBS is based on the presence of selective agents that suppress growth of organisms other than GBS, and the presence of components necessary for pigment production that allow the detection of GBS colonization based on color development. Vaginal/rectal swabs from antepartum women are inoculated directly into Strep B Carrot Broth Kit and incubated aerobically at 35°-37°C for 16-24 hrs. Positive results can be reported as early as 16 hrs. If negative at 16 hrs, the broth cultures are re-incubated until 24 hrs. The cultures are examined after 24 hrs incubation for the development of light orange to orange to red-orange color. After the subculture of negatives to a non-selective media, biochemical testing is performed to rule-out the presence of GBS before calling the sample negative.
## M. Performance Characteristics (if/when applicable):
### 1. Analytical performance:
#### a. Precision/Reproducibility:
Reproducibility was demonstrated at three sites using a blinded panel of twelve well-characterized strains, which included 10 hemolytic GBS strains, 1 non-hemolytic GBS strain, and 1 non-GBS strain as the negative control. At each site, panel members were tested in triplicate at 10³ CFU/ml with Strep B Carrot Broth Kit each day for five days. Strep B Carrot Broth Kit tubes were observed for development of light orange to orange color at 24 hrs. Testing was done with at least one operator and two readers. All strains produced the expected results with the Strep B Carrot Broth Kit at 24 hrs >95% of the time for each operator (538/540). All non-hemolytic GBS were recovered upon subculture to Tryptic Soy Agar with 5% sheep blood. Isolates were also plated onto Tryptic Soy Agar with 5% sheep blood to ensure viability and purity of cultures.
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b. Linearity/assay reportable range:
Not Applicable
c. Traceability, Stability, Expected values (controls, calibrators, or methods):
## Quality Control (QC) Testing
QC testing was performed at each site to examine color development with Strep B Carrot Broth Kit. Five quality control organisms were tested at each study site with Strep B Carrot Broth Kit for each day of testing. QC testing results provided expected reactions across each testing site (Table 1). The submitted QC data are acceptable.
Table 1. QC Data Summary
| QC Strain | Time of Incubation | Expected Results after 24 hrs at 35-37°C | QC Results (all sites) Observed/Expected |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Streptococcus agalactiae ATCC 12386 | 16-24 hrs | Growth, bright orange to red color change | 99/99 |
| Streptococcus agalactiae clinical strain | 24 hrs | Growth; light orange color change | 99/99 |
| Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 19615 | 24 hrs | Growth, no color change | 99/99 |
| Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 | 24 hrs | Partial to complete inhibition; no color change | 99/99 |
| Proteus mirabilis ATCC 12453 | 24 hrs | Partial to complete inhibition; no color change | 99/99 |
## Specimen Stability
Various types of specimen transport swabs were evaluated in-house to determine the acceptable storage conditions to recover GBS from Strep B Carrot Broth Kit. Swabs were spiked with GBS and a contrived matrix containing organisms commonly found in vaginal flora. Eight different GBS strains were used in this study and spiked into the contrived matrix near LoD. Non-target organisms consisted of E. faecalis, E. coli, C. albicans, and L. acidophilus. Organism suspensions in the different transport systems were kept at room temperature and 2-8°C for 0, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hrs before inoculation into Strep B Carrot Broth Kit. TransPRO swabs with Liquid Amies (flocked swab liquid-based transport system) and four other types of transport systems (Sponge-based Liquid Amies and Liquid Stuart's, and Gel-based Amies Gel
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and Stuart's Gel) were used in this study. Strep B Carrot Broth Kit was able to recover 8/8 (100%) of GBS strains and produce orange coloration from swabs in Liquid Amies, Liquid Stuart's, Amies Gel, and Stuart's Gel when stored at 2-8°C for up to 96 hrs. 100% of GBS strains also produced the expected orange color reaction from TransPRO Liquid Amies stored at 2-8°C for up to 120 hrs. Both color development and recovery of GBS were impacted by specimen storage at room temperature beyond 24 hrs. All transport systems tested saw a decline in recovery of GBS after 24 hrs storage at room temperature as shown in Table 2 below. A limitation in the package insert has been added regarding storage at room temperature beyond 24 hrs with the specified specimen transport swabs.
Table 2. Recovery of GBS in Strep B Carrot Broth Kit from Specimens Stored at Room Temperature
| Matrix^{1} | Percent Recovery at Room Temperature (%) | | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | 24 hrs | 48 hrs | 72 hrs | 96 hrs | 120 hrs |
| Liquid Amies | 100 | 62.5 | 37.5 | N/A^{2} | N/A |
| Liquid Stuart's | 100 | 62.5 | 37.5 | N/A | N/A |
| Amies Gel | 100 | 87.5 | 87.5 | N/A | N/A |
| Stuart's Gel | 100 | 87.5 | 75 | N/A | N/A |
| TransPRO Liquid Amies | 100 | 87.5 | 75 | 12.5 | 0 |
1 Specimens collected in Liquid Amies, Liquid Stuart's, and ESwab Liquid Amies transport systems were evaluated in the clinical studies.
2 N/A-Time point not tested for that swab type.
d. Detection limit:
Recovery Study
A Recovery Study was performed with two GBS strains (ATCC 12386 and ATCC 12403). After preparing six serial dilutions per strain in natural negative matrix and inoculating media, Strep B Carrot Broth Kit tubes were incubated to determine color development between 12-24 hrs at 35°C. Tube color was recorded at 12 hrs and every 2 hrs until 24 hrs incubation had occurred. At 16 hrs, the minimum concentration of GBS detected for both strains with Strep B Carrot Broth Kit was 10³ CFU/ml. The LoD for the two GBS strains was confirmed by testing Strep B Carrot Broth Kit with 20 replicated of each strain at the determined LoD concentration (10³ CFU/ml).
Analytical Reactivity
A study was conducted to demonstrate the sensitivity of Strep B Carrot Broth Kit in detecting various GBS strains at a concentration of 10³ CFU/ml. The study included 54 ATCC reference and clinical GBS strains representing seven of the nine different serotypes (48 hemolytic, 6 non-hemolytic). Tubes were read at 24 hrs of incubation for an orange color reaction, which was indicative of GBS. The inclusivity panel is shown in Table 3 below.
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Table 3. GBS Panel for Inclusivity Testing
| Strain | Source | Hemolysis | Serotype1 | Strep B Carrot Broth Observed Color |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| BAA-611 | ATCC | β | V | Orange |
| 12403 | ATCC | β | III | Orange |
| 12386 | ATCC | β | II | Orange |
| 8017 | NCTC | β | III | Orange |
| 1 | Clinical | β | V | Orange |
| 2 | Clinical | β | II | Orange |
| KPWP | Clinical | β | III | Orange |
| P003-001 | Clinical | β | Ia | Orange |
| 7 | Clinical | β | III | Orange |
| 10 | Clinical | β | 1a | Orange |
| 11 | Clinical | β | V | Orange |
| 13 | Clinical | β | VI | Orange |
| 3 | Clinical | β | II | Orange |
| 4 | Clinical | β | VI | Orange |
| QOVHI | Clinical | β | Ia | Light Orange |
| 27 | Clinical | β | III | Orange |
| 28 | Clinical | β | III | Orange |
| 14 | Clinical | β | IV | Orange |
| 15 | Clinical | β | III | Orange |
| 18 | Clinical | β | 1b | Orange |
| 19 | Clinical | β | 1b | Orange |
| 24 | Clinical | β | II | Orange |
| 26 | Clinical | β | 1b | Orange |
| 29 | Clinical | β | II | Orange |
| 30 | Clinical | β | 1b | Orange |
| MS2 | Clinical | β | III | Orange |
| MS3 | Clinical | β | 1b | Orange |
| MS4 | Clinical | β | 1a | Orange |
| MS5 | Clinical | β | 1b | Orange |
| MS6 | Clinical | β | V | Orange |
| MS7 | Clinical | β | 1b | Orange |
| MS8 | Clinical | β | 1a | Orange |
| MS9 | Clinical | β | 1b | Orange |
| MS10 | Clinical | β | 1a | Orange |
| MS11 | Clinical | β | NT1 | Orange |
| MS12 | Clinical | β | III | Orange |
| French | Clinical | β | 1a | Orange |
| MS13 | Clinical | β | NT | Orange |
| MS14 | Clinical | β | 1a | Orange |
| MS15 | Clinical | β | 1a | Orange |
| MS17 | Clinical | β | 1a | Orange |
| MS18 | ATCC | β | 1b | Orange |
| MS19 | ATCC | β | NT | Orange |
| MS26 | Clinical | β | 1b | Orange |
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| MS27 | Clinical | β | III | Orange |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MS28 | Clinical | β | II | Orange |
| MS29 | Clinical | β | II | Orange |
| MS30 | Clinical | β | 1b | Orange |
| 13813 | ATCC | Non-hemolytic | II | White |
| 701348 | NCIMB | Non-hemolytic | II | White |
| MS20 | ATCC | Non-hemolytic | III | White |
| MS21 | NCTC | Non-hemolytic | III | White |
| MS22 | Clinical | Non-hemolytic | III | White |
| MS23 | Clinical | Non-hemolytic | NT | White |
$^{\dagger}$ NT= Non-Typable against the nine known serotypes.
In Strep B Carrot Broth Kit, all 48 β-hemolytic strains produced the expected orange color, and all six non-hemolytic GBS strains showed a negative color reaction. Results also demonstrated that Strep B Carrot Broth Kit was able to recover all non-hemolytic GBS strains tested at the LoD (10³ CFU/ml).
## Incubation Study
An Incubation Study was conducted to determine the effect of various incubation times on the performance of Strep B Carrot Broth Kit when tested with ten GBS strains (hemolytic and non-hemolytic) at 10³ CFU/ml concentration. The recovery of organisms and development of characteristic color with broth cultures were evaluated every 2 hrs from 12-24 hrs. At the earliest time point (12 hrs), all hemolytic organisms produced some kind of orange color reaction (light orange to orange). All GBS strains, including the non-hemolytic strain tested, were recovered upon subculture of Strep B Carrot Broth Kit. The earliest incubation time set for positive detection of GBS by color was 16 hrs.
## e. Analytical specificity:
## Cross-Reactivity Study
In order to evaluate the performance of Strep B Carrot Broth Kit with microorganisms potentially encountered in vaginal/rectal swabs, a Cross-Reactivity Study was completed with 78 non-target organisms (gram negative bacteria, gram positive bacteria, and yeast) at approximately 10⁸ CFU/ml. Results showed that all 78 organisms from the cross-reactivity panel produced a negative color reaction with Strep B Carrot Broth Kit. A total of 48 organisms (61.5%) were recoverable when subcultured at the end of 24 hrs incubation. The cross-reactivity panel is shown in Table 4 below.
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Table 4. List of non-target organisms tested in Analytical Specificity Study
| Organism | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Acinetobacter baumannii | Enterococcus durans | Proteus mirabilis |
| Aeromonas hydrophila | Enterococcus faecalis | Providencia alcalifaciens |
| Aspergillus brasiliensis | Enterococcus faecium | Pseudomonas aeruginosa |
| Bacillus cereus | Enterococcus flavescens | Pseudomonas fluorescens |
| Bacillus subtilis | Enterococcus hirae | Saccharomyces cerevisiae |
| Bacteroides fragilis | Enterococcus raffinosus | Salmonella enterica (typhii) |
| Bifidobacterium breve | Enterococcus saccharolyticus | Salmonella enterica arizonae |
| Campylobacter coli | Escherichia coli | Serratia marcescens |
| Campylobacter jejuni | Gardnerella vaginalis | Shigella boydii |
| Candida albicans | Geotrichum candidum | Shigella flexneri |
| Candida glabrata | Hafnia alvei | Shigella sonnei |
| Candida parapsilosis | Klebsiella oxytoca | Staphylococcus aureus |
| Candida tropicalis | Klebsiella pneumoniae | Staphylococcus epidermidis |
| Citrobacter brakkii | Lactobacillus acidophilus | Staphylococcus saprophyticus |
| Citrobacter freundii | Lactobacillus gasseri | Stenotroph. maltophilia |
| Citrobacter koseri | Lactobacillus leichmannii | Streptococcus mutans |
| Clostridium difficile | Lactococcus lactis | Streptococcus anginosus |
| Clostridium novyi | Legionella pneumophila | Streptococcus bovis |
| Clostridium perfringens | Listeria monocytogenes | Streptococcus dysgalactiae |
| Clostridium sporogenes | Micrococcus luteus | Streptococcus mitis |
| Corynebacterium jekeium | Moraxella cartarrhalis | Streptococcus pneumoniae |
| Enterobacter aerogenes | Morganella morganii | Streptococcus pyogenes |
| Enterobacter cloacae | Neisseria gonorrhoeae | Streptococcus salivarius |
| Enterococcus casseliflavus | Pediococcus acidilacti | Streptococcus uberis |
| Enterococcus cecorum | Peptostreptococcus anaerobius | Vibrio parahaemolyticus |
| Enterococcus dispar | Plesiomonas shigelloides | Yersinia enterocolitica |
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# Interference Study
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of potentially interfering substances commonly found in vaginal/rectal swab specimens on the detection of six hemolytic GBS strains at approximately $10^{3}$ CFU/ml. Interfering substances were tested at physiologically or biologically relevant concentrations and mixed with bacterial suspensions. Development of color was evaluated after 18 hrs and 24 hrs incubation in the presence of 21 interfering substances (Table 5). No interference was observed with any substance at the highest clinically relevant concentration when tested in negative specimen matrix.
Table 5. List of Interfering Substances
| Interfering Substances | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Category | Substance/Active Ingredient | Concentration in Sample Matrix |
| Anti-diarrheal Medication | Pepto-Bismol (Bismuth subsalicylate solution) | 1% v/v |
| | Imodium A-D (Loperamide HCl) | 2% w/v |
| Body Oil | Neutrogena Body Oil | 2% v/v |
| Body Powder | Gold Bond Body Powder | 1% w/v |
| Contraceptive Gel | Options Gynol II® (Nonoxynol-9) | 0.59% w/v |
| Enema Solution | Physiological saline | 0.25% v/v |
| Lubricating Gel | K-Y Jelly | 0.57% w/v |
| Oral Laxative | Milk of Magnesia | 1.78% v/v |
| | Dulcolax (Sodium picosulfate solution) | 1% w/v |
| Polysorbate 80 | Tween 80 | 10% v/v |
| Rectal Laxative | Fleet Glycerin Suppositories | 10% v/v |
| Topical Hemorrhoid Ointment | Preparation-H | 0.26% w/v |
| Vaginal Anti-Itch Medication | Vagisil Cream | 0.41% w/v |
| Vaginal Anti-Fungal Medication | Monistat (Miconazole nitrate) | 0.29% w/v |
| | Lotrimin (Clotrimazole) | 0.29% w/v |
| Endogenous Substances/Supplier | | |
| Human Amniotic Fluid | Medfusion | 2% v/v |
| Human Feces | Central Coast Pathology | 2% v/v |
| Human Meconium | LEE Biosolutions | 2% v/v |
| Human Urine | Central Coast Pathology | 2% v/v |
| Human Whole Blood | In-house | 2% v/v |
| Mucin | Sigma, M2378 | 0.05% w/v |
# Microbial Interference Study
A Microbial Interference Study was conducted to demonstrate that high levels of non-target organism will not suppress color development and recover of GBS. All organisms that were recovered upon subculture from Strep B Carrot Broth Kit in the Analytical Specificity Study were used in the Microbial Interference Study.
Additionally, L. acidophilus (ATCC 4356) and E. coli (ATCC 25922) were included in this study. Non-target organisms at a concentration of $10^{8}\mathrm{CFU / ml}$ were mixed with one hemolytic and one non-hemolytic GBS strain at the LoD. If the target
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organism was not recovered, the concentration of the non-target organism was lowered 10-fold until the target organism was recovered.
At 24 hrs, both GBS strains (S. agalactiae, ATCC 12386 and S. agalactiae, ATCC 13813) gave the expected results in the presence of $10^{8}$ CFU/ml of all non-target strains in the Microbial Interference Study, except in the presence of Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212). In the presence of E. faecalis, proper color development with the $\beta$-hemolytic GBS strain (ATCC 12386) was observed at $10^{5}$ CFU/ml or lower. For the non-hemolytic GBS strain (ATCC 13813) tested, it was recovered upon subculture when the concentration of E. faecalis was $10^{6}$ CFU/ml or lower. The potential for high concentrations of E. faecalis to inhibit the detection and recovery of GBS is noted as a Limitation in the device labeling.
f. Assay cut-off:
Not Applicable
2. Comparison studies:
a. Method comparison with predicate device:
Not Applicable. Compared to Standard Reference Method
b. Matrix comparison:
Not Applicable
3. Clinical studies:
a. Clinical Sensitivity:
Strep B Carrot Broth Kit was evaluated at four clinical sites. A total of 884 vaginal/rectal swabs from pregnant women were prospectively collected. Due to protocol deviations (enrollment criteria not met), 108 specimens were excluded from the study leaving 776 swab specimens to be inoculated and incubated in Strep B Carrot Broth Kit. An additional 5 samples were excluded due to improper storage (time of set-up) before enrichment. In total, 771 compliant specimens were included in the final performance calculations.
A $30~\mu \mathrm{l}$ aliquot of the clinical specimen in transport media was used to inoculate Strep B Carrot Broth Kit, and the culture was incubated at $35 - 37^{\circ}C$ for 24 hrs. The samples included in the evaluation of performance consisted of 771 specimens obtained in three different types of transport swabs/media—Liquid Stuart's Sponge (n=284), Liquid Amies Sponge (n=111), and Liquid Amies ESwab (n=376). For the Reference Culture Method, vaginal/rectal specimens were tested by inoculating LIM Broth with $30~\mu \mathrm{l}$ of specimen from the transport swab system and incubating for 24 hrs at $35 - 37^{\circ}C$. Turbid LIM Broth cultures were subcultured to Tryptic Soy Agar
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with $5\%$ Sheep Blood, and all colonies with characteristic appearance suggestive of GBS were screened to confirm the presence of GBS (both hemolytic and nonhemolytic strains) using established laboratory methods: gram stain, catalase, latex agglutination.
Color development after enrichment in Strep B Carrot Broth Kit was observed after 24 hrs. The Strep B Carrot enriched broth culture (regardless of color development) was also subcultured to Tryptic Soy Agar with $5\%$ Sheep Blood using a $10~\mu \mathrm{l}$ loop, and the agar plate was incubated for 24 hrs at $35 - 37^{\circ}\mathrm{C}$ in a $\mathrm{CO}_{2}$ enriched environment. All colony types were submitted for identification. Results of Strep B Carrot Broth Kit at 24 hrs incubation were compared to the Reference Culture Method. The color change from white to orange with Strep B Carrot Broth Kit was representative of a positive result for the presence of GBS. Tables 6-8 below show the clinical performance data for Strep B Carrot Broth Kit vs the Reference Culture Method (all sites). Performance (sensitivity and specificity) of Strep B Carrot Broth Kit was calculated based on color development and the recovery of GBS from the medium and compared to the recovery of $\beta$ -hemolytic GBS and total GBS strains by the Reference Culture Method.
All isolates with discrepant results were frozen in CryoSavers with Brucella Broth and returned to Hardy Diagnostics for testing. The identity of each isolate was confirmed (β-hemolytic GBS, non-hemolytic GBS, or non-GBS isolate). Once the identity was confirmed, positive organisms (β-hemolytic GBS or non-hemolytic GBS) were tested at LoD $(10^{3}\mathrm{CFU / ml})$ in donated negative-vaginal rectal matrix for their recovery from the LIM Culture Reference Method, color development in Strep B Carrot Broth Kit, and recovery from the Strep B Carrot Broth Kit + Subculture method.
Table 6. Comparison between Strep B Carrot Broth Kit + Subculture (Recovery of all GBS) vs Reference Culture Method (all GBS)
| Strep B Carrot Broth Kit Plus Subculture (24 hrs) | Reference Culture Method | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | Positive | Negative | Total |
| Positive | 161 | 13 | 174 |
| Negative | 2 | 595 | 597 |
| Total | 163 | 608 | 771 |
| Sensitivity: 98.8% (161/163), 95% CI (95.6%-99.7%)Specificity: 97.9% (595/608), 95% CI (96.4%-98.7%) | | | |
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Table 7. Comparison between Strep B Carrot Broth Kit (color) vs Reference Culture Method (all GBS)
| Strep B Carrot Broth Kit Characteristic Color (24 hrs) | Reference Culture Method | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | Positive | Negative | Total |
| Positive | 143 | 7¹ | 150 |
| Negative | 20² | 601 | 621 |
| Total | 163 | 608 | 771 |
| Sensitivity: 87.7% (143/163), 95% CI (81.8%-91.9%)
Specificity: 98.8% (601/608), 95% CI (97.6%-99.4%) | | | |
¹ There were 7 False Positives observed. All isolates were re-tested and confirmed using the discrepant analysis protocol described above. Three isolates that were originally negative by LIM Reference Method showed a positive color reaction in Carrot Broth, but no β-hemolytic GBS colonies were recovered upon subculture to Blood Agar. Of these three, both Blood Agar plates from one sample (from LIM and Carrot Broth subcultured plates) were swarmed with Proteus and no β-hemolytic GBS colonies could be isolated for confirmation. No β-hemolytic GBS colonies were recovered from the frozen samples of the other two isolates, and therefore, could not be confirmed. The remaining four discrepant isolates were confirmed to be β-hemolytic GBS.
² There were 20 False Negatives observed. All isolates were re-tested and confirmed using the discrepant analysis protocol described above. Fourteen of the β-hemolytic GBS isolates recovered from LIM, but originally gave a negative Carrot Broth color reaction, were confirmed as β-hemolytic GBS and subsequently confirmed to have a positive Strep B Carrot Broth Kit color reaction at LoD. Two isolates were identified as a very weak β-hemolytic GBS and did not produce the expected color reaction in Strep B Carrot Broth Kit. Four isolates were confirmed as non-hemolytic GBS with a negative color reaction in Strep B Carrot Broth.
Table 8. Comparison between Strep B Carrot Broth Kit (color) vs Reference Culture Method (only β-hemolytic GBS)¹
| Strep B Carrot Broth Kit Characteristic Color (24 hrs) | Reference Culture Method | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | Positive | Negative | Total |
| Positive | 141 | 9 | 150 |
| Negative | 15 | 606 | 621 |
| Total | 156 | 615 | 771 |
| Sensitivity: 90.4% (141/156), 95% CI (84.7-94.1%)
Specificity: 98.5% (606/615), 95% CI (97.2-99.2%) | | | |
¹ Considering that non-hemolytic GBS cannot be detected by the medium's color change and require subculture for identification, there were seven specimens that were found to contain non-hemolytic GBS strains upon subculture and identification by the Reference Method. If these specimens are included as negatives, then the overall sensitivity and specificity values observed when comparing the recovery of β-hemolytic GBS by the LIM Reference Method to the Strep B Carrot Broth Kit color development can also be evaluated.
b. Clinical specificity:
See above
{14}
c. Other clinical supportive data (when a. and b. are not applicable):
Not Applicable
4. Clinical cut-off:
Not Applicable
5. Expected values/Reference range:
The overall prevalence of GBS (both hemolytic and non-hemolytic strains) by the Reference Culture Method was 21.1% (163/771).
N. Proposed Labeling:
The labeling is sufficient and satisfies the requirements of 21 CFR Part 809.10
O. Conclusion:
The submitted information in this premarket notification is complete and supports a substantial equivalence decision.
15
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