Vβ profile in toxic shock syndrome: A possible diagnostic test

There is currently no diagnostic test for Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) which is caused by superantigens (SAg). SAg bind to the lateral aspect of a T cell receptor at its Vβ region. We studied the expression of Vβ segments on circulating T cells from 7 patients with TSS and 11 controls. The Vβ profile was abnormal in all patients. This could in the future be a possible diagnostic test for TSS.