Clinical experimental design.

<p>Nasal/throat specimens were tested by Detect-Ready® MRSA Kit and by the LightCycler® MRSA Advanced Test. For testing, the double-headed swab was separated. One swab head was processed for directly plated culture on BD BBL™ CHROMagar™ MRSA Medium II, BD Columbia Agar with 5% sheep blood plates, and the LightCycler® MRSA Advanced Test. The other swab was used for the assay with Detect-Ready® MRSA Kit and directly plated culture on BD BBL™ CHROMagar™ MRSA Medium II, and BD Columbia Agar with 5% sheep blood plates. MRSA positive colonies onto the selective chromogenic agar were confirmed to be <i>S. aureus</i> using an agglutination test.