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A microbiological test called the CAMP test is used to detect the presence of Group B Streptococcus (GBS), specifically Streptococcus agalactiae. The CAMP test is based on the idea of synergistic haemolysis, which is the process by which two different bacterial species interact to produce more red blood cell lysis.

Based on the same principle, scientist Hansen created the reverse CAMP test, which uses Streptococcus agalactiae to identify Clostridium perfringens. Alpha toxin producing C. perfringens and CAMP factor from group B β-haemolytic streptococci were the main bacterial proteins used that creates a characteristic pattern on blood agar.

As Clostridium perfringens is one of the clostridia most frequently seen in clinical specimens, an easy-to-use test was developed to differentiate it from other clostridia, and it has been shown to be helpful for presumptive diagnosis in clinical specimens.

References

1. Hansen MV, Elliott LP. New presumptive identification test for Clostridium perfringens: reverse CAMP test. J Clin Microbiol. 1980 Oct;12(4):617-9.

2. Buchanan AG. Clinical laboratory evaluation of a reverse CAMP test for presumptive identification of Clostridium perfringens. J Clin Microbiol. 1982 Oct;16(4):761-2.

3. Gubash SM. Synergistic haemolysis test for presumptive identification and differentiation of Clostridium perfringens, C. bifermentans, C. sordellii, and C. paraperfringens. J Clin Pathol. 1980 Apr;33(4):395-9.

4. Gubash SM. Synergistic hemolysis phenomenon shown by an alpha-toxin-producing Clostridium perfingens and streptococcal CAMP factor in presumptive streptococcal grouping. J Clin Microbiol. 1978 Nov;8(5):480-8.