Detection of Legionella pneumophila, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and the Chlamydiaceae Family from a Single Throat Swab Using the BD ProbeTecTM ET System

METHODS: Analytical sensitivity was determined for each assay by testing serial dilutions of organisms and a cloned target nucleic acid sequence. Specificity was evaluated by challenging the assays with a variety of potential cross-reactants, including genetically related bacteria. To determine whether a carrier state exists for the target organisms, approximately 100 throat swab specimens were collected from asymptomatic volunteers. The stability of dry throat swab specimens was determined by testing a second panel of swabs obtained from asymptomatic individuals and seeded with organisms and stored at various temperatures. All specimens were processed and assayed using a universal buffer system and dried amplification reagents.