POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION VERSUS CULTURE FOR DETECTION OF UREAPLASMA-UREALYTICUM AND MYCOPLASMA-HOMINIS IN THE UROGENITAL TRACT OF ADULTS AND THE RESPIRATORY-TRACT OF NEWBORNS

The efficiency of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was compared wit h that of culture for detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplas ma hominis in 726 clinical specimens comprising 189 gynecological samp les, 362 urological samples, and 175 samples from newborn infants, The sensitivity of PCR versus culture was 95% for both organisms, while t he sensitivity of culture versus PCR was 91% for Ureaplasma urealyticu m and 84% for Mycoplasma hominis. Furthermore, PCR tests were faster t han culture tests, allowing the time to diagnosis to be reduced from t wo to five days to 24 h.