Lab Test

Back Print Page

Mycoplasma (Mycoplasmoides) pneumoniae Macrolide (Azithromycin) Resistance Prediction

Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Mycoplasmoides pneumoniae

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1231882, Beaker: MycoPne Res, MAYO: RPMPM

Department

Send Outs

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect One:

  • Swab of throat, nasal, or nasopharyngeal in universal transport media (UTM) or E Swab.
  • 0.5 mL Fluid of pleural, pericardial or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in sterile container.
  • 1.0 mL Reparatory-bronchial washing (BW), bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) tracheal secretions or sputum in sterile container.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Maintain specimens in original container, refrigerate at (2-8°C or 36-46) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Swab, fluid or respiratory specimen refrigerated at (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum respiratory 0.5 mL)

Rejection Criteria

  • Cotton or calcium alginate-tipped swab, wooden shaft swab, transport swab containing gel or charcoal.
  • Port-a-Cul tube.
  • Dry swab (no pledget or sponge).
  • Respiratory fluid specimens placed in viral transport medium (VTM) or placed on a swab and then into VTM.

In-Lab Processing

Maintain specimens in original container, refrigerate at (2-8°C or 36-46) prior to transport.

Transport: Swab, fluid or respiratory specimen refrigerated at (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum respiratory 0.5 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): unavailable
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 7 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days

Laboratory

Sent to Mayo Clinic Laboratories, Rochester MN.

Performed

Monday – Sunday.
Results available in 3-4 business days.

Reference Range

Not predicted.

Test Methodology

Rapid Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) using Light Cycler and Fluorescent Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)

Interpretation

A macrolide resistance predicted or not predicted result indicates the presence of Mycoplasma (Mycoplasmoides) pneumoniae 23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene and indicates whether one of the 2 most common 23S rRNA gene single nucleotide variations (A2064G and A2063G) associated with high-level macrolide resistance is predicted.

An "unable to assess" result for M pneumoniae macrolide resistance indicates the absence of detectable M pneumoniae 23S rRNA DNA but does not negate the presence of the organism and may occur due to inhibition of the polymerase chain reaction, sequence variability underlying primers or probes, or the presence of M pneumoniae 23S rRNA DNA in quantities less than the limit of detection of the assay.

CPT Codes

87798

Contacts

Last Updated

8/14/2026

Microtainer® and Vacutainer® are registered trademarks of Becton, Dickinson and Company.
UroVysion® is a registered trademark of Abbott Laboratories. ThinPrep® is a registered trademark of Hologic, Incorporated.