Commercial DNA probes for mycobacteria incorrectly identify a number of less frequently encountered species.
Although commercially available DNA probes for identification of mycobacteria have been investigated with large numbers of strains, nothing is known about the ability of these probes to identify less frequently encountered species. We analyzed, with INNO LiPA MYCOBACTERIA (Innogenetics) and with GenoType Mycobacterium (Hein), 317 strains, belonging to 136 species, 61 of which had never been assayed before. INNO LiPA misidentified 20 taxa, the majority of which cross-reacted with the probes specific for Mycobacterium fortuitum and the Mycobacterium avium-Mycobacterium intracellulare-Mycobacterium scrofulaceum group. GenoType misidentified 28 taxa, most of which cross-reacted with M. intracellulare and M. fortuitum probes; furthermore, eight species were not recognized as members of the genus Mycobacterium. Among 54 strains investigated with AccuProbe (Gen-Probe), cross-reactions were detected for nine species, with the probes aiming at the M. avium complex being most involved in cross-reactions.
Tortoli
Enrico
E
Regional Reference Center for Mycobacteria, Piastra dei Servizi, A. O. U. Careggi, viale Morgagni 85, 50134 Florence, Italy. e.tortoli@libero.it
Pecorari
Monica
M
Fabio
Giuliana
G
Messinò
Massimino
M
Fabio
Anna
A
D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000235:genetics*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015342:DNA Probes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic