MRSA screening by the Xpert MRSA PCR assay: pooling samples of the nose, throat, and groin increases the sensitivity of detection without increasing the laboratory costs

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2013 Apr;32(4):565-8. doi: 10.1007/s10096-012-1775-7. Epub 2012 Nov 10.

Abstract

The performance of the Xpert MRSA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay on pooled nose, groin, and throat swabs (three nylon flocked eSwabs into one tube) was compared to culture by analyzing 5,546 samples. The sensitivity [0.78, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.73-0.82] and specificity (0.99, 95 % CI 0.98-0.99) were similar to the results from published studies on separated nose or other specimens. Thus, the performance of the Xpert MRSA assay was not affected by pooling the three specimens into one assay, allowing a higher detection rate without increasing laboratory costs, as compared to nose samples alone.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Bacteriological Techniques / economics
  • Bacteriological Techniques / methods*
  • Carrier State / diagnosis*
  • Carrier State / microbiology
  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Groin / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Mass Screening / economics
  • Mass Screening / methods*
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification*
  • Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / economics
  • Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / methods
  • Nose / microbiology
  • Pharynx / microbiology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / economics
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Specimen Handling / economics
  • Specimen Handling / methods*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / diagnosis*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology