Atypical Pneumonia Real-time PCR Panel

Chlamydophila pneumoniae is a common cause of pneumonia throughout the world and causes 7% to 10% of community-acquired pneumonia among adults. Symptoms of infection with C. pneumoniae are indistinguishable from other causes of pneumonia. A physical examination or chest x-ray does not typically provide information which allows for a definite diagnosis. Culture of the organism is technically demanding and time-consuming. Alternatively, molecular assays such as PCR allow for rapid testing of respiratory secretions for the presence C. pneumoniae DNA, thereby allowing a diagnosis to be established and therapy instituted quickly.

About Atypical Pneumonia

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is the pathogen most often associated with atypical pneumonia. Often indistinguishable from other viral and atypical bacterial pathogens, M. pneumoniae causes a wide range of respiratory infections, including pneumonia, tracheobronchitis, and upper respiratory tract infection. Specialized laboratory tests are necessary to establish a definitive diagnosis due to the nonspecificity of atypical pneumonia clinical presentation. Traditionally, culture and serological tests have been utilized. However, culture is relatively insensitive for acute diagnosis and requires a long incubation period. PCR technology to assess for M. pneumoniae nucleic acid has proven to be a sensitive and specific diagnostic tool. Respiratory specimens are tested for the presence M. pneumoniae DNA, facilitating a rapid diagnosis which allows appropriate antimicrobial therapy to be instituted quickly.

Extraction of C. pneumoniae DNA and M. pneumoniae DNA from specimen followed by amplification and detection of C. pneumoniae DNA and M. pneumoniae DNA using real-time, qualitative PCR. An internal control is added to ensure the extraction was performed correctly and the PCR reaction was not inhibited. This test has not been cleared or approved for diagnostic use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The Chlamydophila pneumoniae PCR assay was tested for cross reactivity against Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella parapertussis, Bordetella bronchiseptica, all relevant non-C. pneumoniae species of Chlamydophila, all relevant strains of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and all relevant species of Legionella as well as human herpes viruses, polyoma viruses, hepatitis viruses, adenoviruses, parvovirus B19, Pneumocystis jirovecii and Toxoplasma gondii with no cross reactivity noted.

The Mycoplasma pneumoniae PCR assay was tested for cross reactivity against Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella parapertussis, Bordetella bronchiseptica, all relevant species of Chlamydophila, all relevant species of Legionella as well as human herpes viruses, polyoma viruses, hepatitis viruses, adenoviruses, parvovirus B19, Pneumocystis jirovecii and Toxoplasma gondii with no cross reactivity noted.