Inhibition of PCR-based assay for Bordetella pertussis by using calcium alginate fiber and aluminum shaft components of a nasopharyngeal swab.
A PCR-based assay for Bordetella pertussis was inhibited by using a calcium alginate fiber-tipped swab with an aluminum shaft but not by using a Dacron fiber-tipped swab with a plastic shaft. The calcium alginate fiber component inhibited the assay following storage for less than 1 min in a suspension of 10(3) CFU of B. pertussis per ml, whereas the aluminum shaft component required storage for at least 48 h in order to cause inhibition. We recommend the Dacron swab over the calcium alginate swab for collecting specimens for testing in PCR-based assays.
Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261.
R M
RM
Wadowsky
S
S
Laus
T
T
Libert
S J
SJ
States
G D
GD
Ehrlich
D000464:Alginates; D000535:Aluminum; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001886:Bordetella pertussis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology
D000464:Alginates; D015342:DNA Probes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D000535:Aluminum