title: Misidentification of Mycobacterium leprae as Mycobacterium intracellulare by the COBAS AMPLICOR M. intracellulare test.
abstract: Commercially available nucleic acid probe- and amplification-based systems for detection and differentiation of mycobacteria are widely used in clinical microbiology laboratories. Here we report two cases of human leprosy in which the COBAS AMPLICOR Mycobacterium intracellulare test led to false- positive results. Correct identification of Mycobacterium leprae was possible only by amplification and comparative sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité--Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. mlefmann@berlin.helios-kliniken.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lefmann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moter
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schweickert
authors.forename: U B
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Göbel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015269:Mycobacterium avium Complex / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015270:Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic