Question

A lethargic, pale child is brought to the health care provider's office with symptoms of periorbital edema and reduced quantity of urine output. The urine is cloudy and smoky in color. The nurse asks the mother if the child has had any recent infections, to which the mother responds that the child had a very sore throat a few weeks ago. The health care provider suspects that the child might have acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis. Which of the following laboratory tests would rule out a past streptococcal infection in the child?

a) Antistreptolysin O (ASO) titer
b) Complete blood count (CBC)
c) Blood culture
d) Urinalysis

Answer 1

The appropriate test to rule out a past streptococcal infection in a child with symptoms of acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis is an Antistreptolysin O (ASO) titer.

Step-by-step explanation:

To identify a past streptococcal infection, which may have caused acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis in the child, the laboratory test that would be most indicative is the Antistreptolysin O (ASO) titer. This test measures the levels of ASO antibodies in the blood, which are produced in response to a streptococcal infection. The Complete blood count (CBC), Blood culture, and Urinalysis are useful tests, but they do not specifically rule out past streptococcal infections. A CBC might show general signs of infection or inflammation, a Blood culture could detect a current bacterial infection, and Urinalysis would typically indicate the presence of blood or protein in the urine which are common in glomerulonephritis but would not differentiate a streptococcal cause.