Mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA, Qualitative, Real-Time PCR

M. pneumoniae by PCR

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1231998, Beaker: MycoPnePCR, Quest: 15498

Department

Send Outs

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: 1.0 mL of sputum or bronchial lavage/wash(BAL) in a sterile leak-proof plastic container. (Minimum: 0.35 mL sputum).

Also acceptable: Throat or nasopharyngeal swab in Universal transport media (UTM). Use only sterile Dacron or rayon swabs. 

Preparation for Courier Transport

Maintain sputum/ BAL in plastic container or swab in UTM and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46) prior to transport.

Transport: Sputum/BAL or Swab refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 0.35 mL- sputum/BAL)

Rejection Criteria

• Calcium alginate swabs.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Maintain sputum/ BAL in plastic container or swab in UTM and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46) prior to transport.

Transport: Sputum/BAL or Swab refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 0.35 mL- sputum/BAL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 48 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 30 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Quest Diagnostics, Wood Dale, IL.

Performed

Daily.
Results available in 3-5 days. 

Reference Range

Not detected.

Test Methodology

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Clinical Utility

Mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA, Qualitative, Real-Time PCR - Mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA, PCR, is a highly sensitive method to detect the presence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA in clinical specimens.
The diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection should not rely solely upon the result of a PCR assay. A positive result should be determined in conjunction with clinical presentation and additional established clinical tests. Moreover, this assay cannot differentiate between viable and nonviable organisms. A negative PCR result indicates the absence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA at detectable levels in the sample tested and does not exclude the diagnosis of disease.

CPT Codes

87581

Contacts

Last Updated

11/19/2025