Polymerase chain reaction for screening clinical isolates of corynebacteria for the production of diphtheria toxin. Issue 4 (April 1994)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pallen, M J; Hay, A J; Puckey, L H; Efstratiou, A
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical pathology. Volume 47:Issue 4(1994)
• Page Start: 353
• Page End: 356
• Publication Date: 1994-04
• Subjects: Pathology -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; 616.0705
• DOI: 10.1136/jcp.47.4.353
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9746

Abstract

Abstract : AIMS--To assess the performance of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) when used to screen rapidly large numbers of corynebacteria for toxin production; and to determine the incidence of false positive PCR results with non-toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae isolates. METHODS--Eighty seven recent British isolates of corynebacteria were assayed by PCR. All isolates were assayed from both blood and tellurite agar within a five day period. Thirty three non-toxigenic isolates of C diphtheriae from six countries were also tested by PCR and by the Elek immunodiffusion assay. RESULTS--There was complete concordance between the results of PCR and traditional methods on the recent British isolates, with one exception: an Elek positive "C ulcerans" isolate, which was PCR positive from tellurite but not from blood agar. One of the thirty three (3%) non-toxigenic isolates of C diphtheriae was PCR positive. CONCLUSIONS--These results suggest that PCR compares favourably with traditional methods for the detection of toxigenic corynebacteria and that it represents a powerful new tool in the diagnosis of an old disease.