Early detection of negative BACTEC MGIT 960 cultures by PCR-reverse cross-blot hybridization assay.
We evaluated the efficacy of a PCR-reverse cross-blot hybridization assay, a test which permits identification of mycobacteria by means of species-specific probes and a Mycobacterium-specific probe, for early detection of negative BACTEC MGIT 960 mycobacterial cultures. Aliquots of 549 cultures were collected 7 days after the culture media were inoculated with various clinical specimens and tested with the molecular assay. PCR results were compared to those obtained at the end times with the BACTEC MGIT 960 system. Of the 549 specimens analyzed, 484 were found to be negative and 64 were found positive by both methods; one specimen, found to be positive by the BACTEC MGIT 960 system, was identified as negative by the molecular assay. In view of its high negative predictive value (99.8%), the PCR-reverse cross-blot hybridization assay appears to be a valid tool for early detection of negative BACTEC MGIT 960 cultures.
Romano
Lucio
L
Istituto di Microbiologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
Sanguinetti
Maurizio
M
Posteraro
Brunella
B
Ardito
Fausta
F
Gesu
Giovanni
G
Schito
Anna Maria
AM
Fadda
Giovanni
G
D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D003470:Culture Media; D015342:DNA Probes; D006801:Humans; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization / Q000379:methods*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013045:Species Specificity
D003470:Culture Media; D015342:DNA Probes