Real-Time PCR Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila in Respiratory Specimens Using the ARIES® System

Authors

Subathra Marimuthu, University of LouisvilleFollow
Leslie A. Wolf, University of LouisvilleFollow
James T. Summersgill, University of LouisvilleFollow

Funder

The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.

Abstract

Background: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mpn), Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn), and Legionella pneumophila (Lpn) can cause both epidemic and endemic occurrences of acute respiratory disease and are responsible for up to 22% of cases of community acquired pneumonia. Due to the limited availability of FDA-approved molecular diagnostic assays, we developed and evaluated a multiplexed Real-time PCR assay for the detection of these agents in two respiratory specimen types on the Luminex ARIES® instrument. The instrument provides for nucleic acid extraction plus PCR amplification and target detection in the same cassette. The ARIES® instrument generates a cycle threshold value and a confirmatory melt curve value for each reaction, including results for an internal sample processing control. The limit of detection for Mpn, Cpn and Lpn, was 100 CFU/mL, 1000 CFU/mL and 100 CFU/mL, respectively. In addition, accuracy, precision, specificity and stability studies were conducted to validate the assay for diagnostic use. Between November 2016 and June 2017, a total of 836 patient specimens were processed in our reference laboratory, with six positive Mpn and two positive Lpn. No specimens were positive for Cpn during this time period. The availability of a robust multiplex PCR assay greatly enhances the ability to rapidly diagnose infections caused by these three agents causing atypical pneumonia.

DOI

10.18297/jri/vol2/iss1/3/

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Marimuthu, Subathra; Wolf, Leslie A.; and Summersgill, James T. (2018) "Real-Time PCR Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila in Respiratory Specimens Using the ARIES® System," The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections: Vol. 2 : Iss. 1 , Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18297/jri/vol2/iss1/3/
Available at: https://ir.library.louisville.edu/jri/vol2/iss1/3