Prolex™ Staph Latex Kits — S. aureus and MRSA Detection in 20 Seconds
The only rapid staph agglutination kit with independently published 100% sensitivity in clinical bacteraemia isolates. 4-component CMMP technology. Results in ≤20 seconds.
Sensitivity
100%
Specificity
91.7%
Result Time
20s
Clinical Sensitivity
Independent peer-reviewed study of 88 clinical S. aureus bacteraemia isolates. PMID 34958065 (2022).
Detection Components
CMMP: Clumping Factor + Protein A + ML-mAb + SA-mAb. Competitors use 2–3 components.
Time to Result
Blue latex agglutination on white card. No equipment required. No ambiguous readings.
The Evidence Staphaurex Plus Doesn't Have
Most rapid staph agglutination kits rely on manufacturer-generated data. Prolex Staph Xtra is different. An independent 2022 peer-reviewed study tested it against 88 clinical S. aureus bacteraemia isolates — the hardest, most clinically relevant scenario — and found 100% sensitivity, 91.7% specificity, 98.7% PPV, and 100% NPV.
A 2008 head-to-head comparison (Davies et al., PMID 18986102) evaluated Prolex Staph Xtra against Staphaurex Plus, Staphytect Plus, and Pastorex Staph-Plus. Prolex Staph Xtra and Pastorex proved superior. Staphaurex Plus and Staphytect Plus did not match that performance. That independent evaluation stands as the only peer-reviewed head-to-head data in the rapid staph latex space.
"Prolex Staph Xtra … demonstrated superior sensitivity and speed."
— Davies J.M.E. et al. J Clin Microbiol. 2008. PMID: 18986102.
100% Sensitivity — PMID 34958065
88 clinical S. aureus bacteraemia isolates. Independent lab. No manufacturer involvement. PPV 98.7%, NPV 100%.
Head-to-Head Superior — PMID 18986102
Outperformed Staphaurex Plus and Staphytect Plus. The only peer-reviewed comparative study in this category.
Staph Latex Validated — PMID 9635906
Multi-kit comparison: 96.9% sensitivity, 93.6% specificity. Independent evaluation across clinical isolates.
Transparent Direct Pricing
PL.080B $136.80 (100 tests) · PL.1081 $487.42 (300 tests). No RFQ. No distributor markup. Same Pro-Lab quality.
CMMP Technology: 4-Component Detection
Most rapid staph tests use two detection components: clumping factor and protein A. Prolex Staph Xtra adds two monoclonal antibodies — a mannan-binding lectin mAb and a S. aureus-specific antigen mAb — providing broader detection coverage for S. aureus and MRSA. In an independent peer-reviewed study of 88 clinical bacteraemia isolates, this 4-component system achieved 100% sensitivity (PMID 34958065) and was found superior to Staphaurex Plus and Staphytect Plus in a head-to-head evaluation (PMID 18986102).
- check_circle Superior to Staphaurex Plus and Staphytect Plus in independent head-to-head study (PMID 18986102)
- check_circle Blue latex vs white card — unambiguous visual read in 20 seconds
- check_circle No instrumentation required — fits standard microbiology bench workflow
- check_circle Detects MRSA as well as MSSA — one test, complete picture
Two Kits for Every Lab's Needs
Standard S. aureus screening or full MRSA-capable surveillance — order direct and skip the distributor.
Prolex Staph Latex Kit
StandardRapid S. aureus detection from primary cultures. 100-test kit for routine screening workflows.
Prolex Staph Xtra
4-component CMMP technology for S. aureus AND MRSA detection. The peer-reviewed choice for bacteraemia work-up.
Head-to-Head Competitive Analysis
Independent peer-reviewed data vs. manufacturer-reported claims.
| Feature | Prolex Staph Xtra | Prolex Staph Latex | Staphaurex Plus | Staphytect Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent Peer-Reviewed Study | check_circle Yes — PMID 34958065 | check_circle Yes — PMID 9635906 | ✗ Manufacturer only | ✗ Manufacturer only |
| Sensitivity (independent) | 100% | 96.9% | Manufacturer-reported | Manufacturer-reported |
| Detection Components | 4 (CMMP) | 2 (CF + PA) | 2–3 | 2 |
| MRSA Detection | check_circle Yes | S. aureus only | Yes (manufacturer) | Yes (manufacturer) |
| Head-to-Head Comparison | Superior (PMID 18986102) | — | Inferior in PMID 18986102 | Inferior in PMID 18986102 |
| Result Time | ≤20 seconds | ≤20 seconds | ~30–60 seconds | ~20 seconds |
| Transparent Pricing | $487.42 / 300 tests | $136.80 / 100 tests | RFQ required | RFQ required |
* Sensitivity/specificity for Staphaurex Plus and Staphytect Plus are manufacturer-reported. Prolex data from independent peer-reviewed studies.
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What is the difference between PL.080B and PL.1081?
PL.080B (Prolex Staph Latex Kit, 100 tests) detects S. aureus using clumping factor and protein A — the standard 2-component approach. PL.1081 (Prolex Staph Xtra, 300 tests) adds two monoclonal antibodies (ML-mAb + SA-mAb) to detect S. aureus AND MRSA, including strains with weak CF or PA reactions.
What is CMMP technology?
CMMP stands for the 4-component detection system: Clumping Factor (fibrinogen binding), Protein A (IgG Fc binding), Mannan-Binding Lectin monoclonal antibody, and S. aureus-Specific Antigen monoclonal antibody. All four components are coated on blue latex particles. The additional mAb components provide broader detection coverage — as demonstrated in independent peer-reviewed studies (PMID 34958065, PMID 18986102). Note: CMMP applies to the Staph Xtra (PL.1081) only; the standard Staph Latex Kit (PL.080B) uses a 2-component system (CF + PA).
How does Prolex Staph Xtra compare to Staphaurex Plus?
An independent peer-reviewed head-to-head study (Davies et al., PMID 18986102) found Prolex Staph Xtra performed superiorly to Staphaurex Plus in sensitivity and speed. Staphaurex Plus uses 2–3 detection components vs Prolex Xtra's 4-component CMMP. Staphaurex Plus pricing requires a request for quote — there's no transparent per-test cost publicly available. Prolex Xtra is $487.42 direct for 300 tests ($1.62/test).
What peer-reviewed data exists for Prolex Staph Xtra?
Two independent peer-reviewed publications: (1) PMID 34958065 (2022) — 88 clinical S. aureus bacteraemia isolates, 100% sensitivity, 91.7% specificity, 98.7% PPV, 100% NPV. (2) PMID 18986102 (Davies et al., 2008) — head-to-head vs Staphaurex Plus, Staphytect Plus, Pastorex Staph-Plus, showing Prolex Xtra superior. No other rapid staph latex kit has equivalent independent peer-reviewed data.
What quality controls are required?
The IFU specifies testing a known positive strain (S. aureus ATCC #25923 or equivalent) — must agglutinate within 20 seconds — and a known negative strain (S. epidermidis ATCC #12228 or equivalent) — must show no agglutination. A Negative Control Latex Reagent is included in the kit. An optional Staph Positive Control (PL.089B, 1 mL) is also available for purchase. Do not use the kit if control reactions are incorrect (IFU PL080B_081B Rev. 2023-01).
Can I order through Fisher Scientific or VWR?
Yes. Fisher Scientific carries PL.080B (22-286-203) and PL.1081 Xtra (22-286-204). VWR also lists the Staph Latex kit. However, ordering direct from Pro-Lab Direct gives you the same product at factory pricing — no distributor markup. For volume pricing, use the Volume Quote button.
What storage conditions are required?
Both kits require 2–8°C cold chain storage and ship via 2-day cold delivery. Do not freeze. Kits are stable until the expiration date printed on the product label (IFU PL080B_081B Rev. 2023-01). Do not use reagents past the expiration date.
Ready to Switch to Peer-Reviewed Performance?
100% sensitivity confirmed independently. 4-component detection. Order direct at $487.42 (300-test) or request volume pricing for your institution.
Ships cold from Georgetown, Texas · 2-day delivery