Assays Compared For Diagnosis of Mycoplasma Infection
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 23 Nov 2011 |
Both molecular and serological assays have been compared for detection of Mycoplasma infection in nasopharyngeal aspirates and serum samples.
Two commercial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays including a real-time PCR test, and an oligochromatographic test, and one serology test were compared for the ability to detect Mycoplasma pneumoniae mainly in pediatric patients.
At the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain) a total of 145 nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens were collected from June 2008 to December 2009. This included samples from pediatric patients with respiratory infection who presented at the emergency department and healthy children. Serum samples were obtained on admission, and convalescent serum samples were obtained 4–6 weeks later from all patients. Serum samples were tested on reception.
Serum samples were tested against M. pneumoniae using a commercial particle semiquantitative agglutination test kit (Serodia-Myco II test, Fujirebio; Tokyo, Japan, ). This agglutination assay uses gelatin particles sensitized with a crude antigen suspension of M. pneumoniae. The Speed-oligo M. pneumoniae test (Vircell; Granada, Spain) is a PCR-based method coupled to a dipstick device that enables a rapid detection of M. pneumoniae in clinical samples. The real-time PCR was performed with the SmartCycler II instrument (Cepheid; Sunnyvale, CA, USA).
Among the 145 samples, 32 serum pairs were serologically positive for M. pneumoniae. Of these, in 30 nasopharyngeal aspirates, M. pneumoniae was detected using the real-time PCR assay and 25 using Speed-oligo, corresponding to a sensitivity of 93.7% and 78.1%, respectively. Among the 94 samples with negative serology, only one positive result was obtained by real-time PCR assay. In the group of samples from healthy children, no positive results were obtained. M. pneumoniae is a pathogen that is a causative agent of respiratory tract infections
The authors concluded both PCR methods are fast; real-time PCR needs about one hour to complete and Speed-oligo PCR is completed within 55 minutes and detection requires no more than five minutes. However, the laboratory diagnosis of a chosen clinical episode should not rest on the PCR or acute phase serologic assay alone, but must also include antibody assays to confirm whether infection is current or represents persistence from past exposure. The study was published online on October 14, 2011, in the journal Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease.
Related Links:
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Fujirebio
Cepheid
Two commercial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays including a real-time PCR test, and an oligochromatographic test, and one serology test were compared for the ability to detect Mycoplasma pneumoniae mainly in pediatric patients.
At the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain) a total of 145 nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens were collected from June 2008 to December 2009. This included samples from pediatric patients with respiratory infection who presented at the emergency department and healthy children. Serum samples were obtained on admission, and convalescent serum samples were obtained 4–6 weeks later from all patients. Serum samples were tested on reception.
Serum samples were tested against M. pneumoniae using a commercial particle semiquantitative agglutination test kit (Serodia-Myco II test, Fujirebio; Tokyo, Japan, ). This agglutination assay uses gelatin particles sensitized with a crude antigen suspension of M. pneumoniae. The Speed-oligo M. pneumoniae test (Vircell; Granada, Spain) is a PCR-based method coupled to a dipstick device that enables a rapid detection of M. pneumoniae in clinical samples. The real-time PCR was performed with the SmartCycler II instrument (Cepheid; Sunnyvale, CA, USA).
Among the 145 samples, 32 serum pairs were serologically positive for M. pneumoniae. Of these, in 30 nasopharyngeal aspirates, M. pneumoniae was detected using the real-time PCR assay and 25 using Speed-oligo, corresponding to a sensitivity of 93.7% and 78.1%, respectively. Among the 94 samples with negative serology, only one positive result was obtained by real-time PCR assay. In the group of samples from healthy children, no positive results were obtained. M. pneumoniae is a pathogen that is a causative agent of respiratory tract infections
The authors concluded both PCR methods are fast; real-time PCR needs about one hour to complete and Speed-oligo PCR is completed within 55 minutes and detection requires no more than five minutes. However, the laboratory diagnosis of a chosen clinical episode should not rest on the PCR or acute phase serologic assay alone, but must also include antibody assays to confirm whether infection is current or represents persistence from past exposure. The study was published online on October 14, 2011, in the journal Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease.
Related Links:
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Fujirebio
Cepheid
Latest Microbiology News
- Enhanced Rapid Syndromic Molecular Diagnostic Solution Detects Broad Range of Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Decision Support Software a Game-Changer in Antimicrobial Resistance Battle
- New CE-Marked Hepatitis Assays to Help Diagnose Infections Earlier
- 1 Hour, Direct-From-Blood Multiplex PCR Test Identifies 95% of Sepsis-Causing Pathogens
- Mouth Bacteria Test Could Predict Colon Cancer Progression
- Unique Metabolic Signature Could Enable Sepsis Diagnosis within One Hour of Blood Collection
- Groundbreaking Diagnostic Platform Provides AST Results With Unprecedented Speed
- Simple Blood Test Combined With Personalized Risk Model Improves Sepsis Diagnosis
- Blood Analysis Predicts Sepsis and Organ Failure in Children
- TB Blood Test Could Detect Millions of Silent Spreaders
- New Blood Test Cuts Diagnosis Time for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections from Months to Hours
- New Tuberculosis Test to Expand Testing Access in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
- Rapid Test Diagnoses Tropical Disease within Hours for Faster Antibiotics Treatment
- Rapid Molecular Testing Enables Faster, More Targeted Antibiotic Treatment for Pneumonia
- Rapid AST Platform Provides Targeted Therapeutic Results Days Faster Than Current Standard of Care
- New Analysis Method Detects Pathogens in Blood Faster and More Accurately by Melting DNA