Evaluation of a commercial gene probe for identification of Legionella cultures.
Confirmation of a culture as Legionella when it is unreactive with available serologic reagents involves tests that are impractical in most clinical laboratories. A nucleic acid probe that hybridizes only to members of the genus Legionella was recently prepared for marketing by Gen-Probe, Inc., San Diego, Calif. We tested 215 Legionella strains, representing 22 species, and 84 non-Legionella strains, representing 17 bacterial genera, with the Gen-Probe kit. All but four Legionella strains (L. bozemanii, less than 2% of total) and no heterologous strains gave positive test results. We conclude that the Legionella gene probe is a valuable addition to existing diagnostic tests for Legionella organisms.
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Wilkinson
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JS
Sampson
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Plikaytis
D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007875:Legionella / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal