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HelpTest Code LAB12247 Mycoplasma (Mycoplasmoides) pneumoniae with Macrolide Resistance Reflex, Molecular Detection, PCR, Varies
Useful For
Diagnosing infections due to Mycoplasma (Mycoplasmoides) pneumoniae
Assessing macrolide susceptibility
Reporting Name
M pneumoniae PCR + Macrolide ReflexMycoplasma pneumoniae by PCR
Specimen Type
VariesNecessary Information
Specimen source is required.
Specimen Required
The high sensitivity of amplification by polymerase chain reaction requires the specimen to be processed in an environment in which contamination of the specimen by Mycoplasma (Mycoplasmoides) pneumoniae DNA is unlikely.
Submit only 1 of the following specimens:
Specimen Type: Swab
Supplies:
-Culturette (BBL Culture Swab) (T092)
-BD E-Swab (T853)
-Nasopharyngeal Swab (Nylon Mini-Tip Swab) (T861)
-Culture Swab-Liquid Stuarts/Single Swab (NP Swab) (T515)
-M4-RT (T605)
Sources: Throat, nasal, or nasopharyngeal
Container/Tube:
Preferred: Culture swab transport system (Dacron or rayon swab with aluminum or plastic shaft with either Stuart or Amies liquid medium)
Acceptable: Culture transport swab (Stuart's media) or place swab in M4, M4-RT, M5, M6, universal transport media, or ESwab
Specimen Volume: Swab
Collection Instructions:
1. Collect specimen by swabbing back and forth over mucosa surface to maximize recovery of cells.
2. Place swab back into swab cylinder.
Specimen Type: Fluid
Sources: Pleural, pericardial, cerebrospinal
Container/Tube: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL
Specimen Type: Respiratory
Sources: Bronchial washing, bronchoalveolar lavage, tracheal secretions, sputum
Container/Tube: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: 1 mL
Specimen Minimum Volume
Respiratory specimen: 0.5 mL
Other specimen types: See Specimen Required
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varies | Refrigerated (preferred) | 7 days | |
| Frozen | 7 days |
Reject Due To
| Cotton or calcium alginate-tipped swab, wooden shaft swab, transport swab containing gel or charcoal Port-a-Cul tube Anaerobic fluid vials Dry swab (no pledget or sponge) Respiratory fluid specimens placed in VTM or placed on a swab and then into VTM (M4-RT, M4, or M5) Body fluid specimens placed in VTM or placed on a swab and then in VTM (M4-RT, M4, or M5) |
Reject |
Clinical Information
Mycoplasma (Mycoplasmoides) pneumoniae is a small bacterium transmitted via organism-containing droplets. It is a cause of upper respiratory infection, pharyngitis, and tracheobronchitis, particularly in children, and has been associated with approximately 20% of cases of community acquired pneumonia.(1) Central nervous system and cardiac manifestations are some of the extrapulmonary complications of infections due to M pneumoniae. The disease is usually self-limited although severe disease may occur, including in patients who are immunocompromised.(2)
Identification of M pneumoniae by culture-based methods is time consuming and insensitive. Serologic assays have drawbacks; the development of IgM antibodies takes approximately 1 week, and the IgM response in adults may be variable or may be decreased in immunosuppressed individuals.(3,4) Confirmation of the disease may be dependent on the observation of a 4-fold rise in IgG antibody titers between acute and convalescent specimens, only after several weeks following the initial onset of illness, only providing clinical application for retrospective testing and not individual patient care.(4) Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing offers a rapid and sensitive option for detection of M pneumoniae DNA from clinical specimens.(5)
Macrolide resistance in M pneumoniae is increasingly reported. In a study performed at Mayo Clinic, 10% of M pneumoniae detections were associated with macrolide resistance.(6) Real-time PCR testing can be used to assess for common mutations associated with macrolide resistance in M pneumoniae.
Reference Values
Negative
Interpretation
A positive result indicates the presence of Mycoplasma (Mycoplasmoides) pneumoniae. If detected, common mutations associated with macrolide resistance in M pneumoniae may be assessed.
A negative result does not rule out the presence of M pneumoniae and may be due to the presence of inhibitors within the specimen matrix or the presence of target DNA below the limit of detection of the assay.
Method Description
Throat swabs, nasopharyngeal swabs, sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, pericardial/pleural/chest fluid, and cerebrospinal fluid specimens are processed according to specimen type. Nucleic acid is extracted by the MagNA Pure 96 automated instrument (Roche Applied Science). A specific target sequence from Mycoplasma (Mycoplasmoides) pneumoniae is targeted by primers and fluorescence resonance energy transfer hybridization probes. The LightCycler 480 II instrument (Roche Applied Science) amplifies and monitors the development of target nucleic acid sequences after the annealing step during polymerase chain reaction (PCR) cycling. Detection of the M pneumoniae target is performed through melting curve analysis using the LightCycler software.(Schmitt BH, Sloan LM, Patel R. Real-time PCR detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in respiratory specimens. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2013 Nov;77[3]:202-205)
If M pneumoniae is detected, a reflexive PCR is performed to assess the 23S ribosomal RNA gene region of M pneumoniae and predict macrolide resistance based on the most common, high-level point mutations at positions 2064 and 2063 via melting curve analysis. While the wildtype genotype will display a stable melting temperature, the designed primer and probe combinations will be highly sensitive to single nucleotide mutations resulting in a cooler (left shift) melting temperature value.(Rothstein TE, Cunningham SA, Rieke RA, Mainella JM, Mutchler MM, Patel R. Macrolide resistance in Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Midwestern United States, 2014 to 2021. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2022 Apr 19;66[4]:e0243221)
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Sunday
Report Available
3 to 4 daysPerforming Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
Test Classification
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.CPT Code Information
87581
LOINC Code Information
| Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| MPRP | M pneumoniae PCR + Macrolide Reflex | 29257-3 |
| Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| SRCMP | Specimen source | 31208-2 |
| 62394 | M. pneumoniae PCR | 29257-3 |
Method Name
Rapid Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) using Light Cycler and Fluorescent Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)
Forms
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Microbiology Test Request (T244) with the specimen.
Reflex Tests
| Test ID | Reporting Name | Available Separately | Always Performed |
|---|---|---|---|
| RPMPM | M. pneumoniae Macrolide Resist PCR | Yes | No |
Testing Algorithm
If positive, Mycoplasma pneumoniae macrolide resistance will be performed at an additional charge.