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Interpretive Handbook

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Test 60756:
Mycoplasma hominis, Molecular Detection, PCR

Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Mycoplasma hominis causes septic arthritis and postpartum fever, and has been associated with pelvic inflammatory disease and bacterial vaginosis. Culture isolation is laborious, requiring a high degree of technical skill and taking several days. PCR detection is sensitive, specific, and provides same-day results. The described PCR assay has replaced conventional culture for Mycoplasma hominis at Mayo Medical Laboratories.

Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Rapid, sensitive, and specific identification of Mycoplasma hominis from synovial fluid, genitourinary, reproductive, and lower respiratory sources

Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

A positive PCR result for the presence of a specific sequence found within the Mycoplasma hominis tuf gene indicates the presence of Mycoplasma hominis DNA in the specimen.

 

A negative PCR result indicates the absence of detectable Mycoplasma hominis DNA in the specimen, but does not rule-out infection as false-negative results may occur due to the following; inhibition of PCR, sequence variability underlying the primers and/or probes, or the presence of Mycoplasma hominis in quantities less than the limit of detection of the assay.

Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

Interfering substances may affect the accuracy of this assay; results should always be interpreted in conjunction with clinical and epidemiological findings.

 

This test does not detect other mycoplasmas or ureaplasmas (including Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a common cause of community acquired pneumonia).

Reference Values Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

Not applicable

Clinical References Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Waites KB, Taylor-Robinson D: Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma. In Manual of Clinical Microbiology. 10th edition. Edited by J Versalovic. ASM Press, Washington, DC, 2011

2. Stellrecht KA, Woron AM, Mishrik NG, Venezia RA: Comparison of multiplex PCR assay with culture detection of genital mycoplasmas. J Clin Microbiol 2003;42:1528-1533

3. Kenny GE: Genital mycoplasmas: Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, and Ureaplasma species. In Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. Edited by GL Mandell, et al. Churchill Livingstone, New York, 2008

4. Yoshida T, Maeda SI, Deguchi T, et al: Rapid detection of Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma parvum, and Ureaplasma urealyticum organisms in genitourinary samples by PCR-microtiter plate hybridization assay. J Clin Microbiol 2003;41:1850-1855

5. Cunningham SA, Shannon SK, Rosenblatt J, Patel R: Comparison of culture and rapid polymerase chain reaction detection of Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum from genitourinary specimens. 48th Annual Infectious Diseases Society of America Meeting, 2010