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Rapid immunoblot method for diagnosis of acuteMycoplasma pneumoniae infection

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Abstract

A rapid immunoblotting technique based on the IgM response to a major immunogenic protein is described for the diagnosis ofMycoplasma pneumoniae infection. Using results of the complement fixation test as the criterion for diagnosis, the rapid immunoblot method was positive in 95.7 % of patients. The sensitivity was reduced to 81.9 % if the test was performed on either single sera or acute sera only from serum pairs. Although the few sera that failed to demonstrate a positive IgM response were more likely to be from older patients, there was a consistent IgM response recorded for both younger (<20 years) and older (≥20 years) patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    N. Cimolai, D. Mah, E. Thomas & P. J. Middleton

  2. Program of Microbiology, Department of Pathology, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, 4480 Oak Street, V6H 3V4, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    N. Cimolai

Authors
  1. N. Cimolai
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  2. D. Mah
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  3. E. Thomas
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  4. P. J. Middleton
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Cimolai, N., Mah, D., Thomas, E. et al. Rapid immunoblot method for diagnosis of acuteMycoplasma pneumoniae infection. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 9, 223–226 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01963844

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