Assessment of use of the COBAS AMPLICOR system with BACTEC 12B cultures for rapid detection of frequently identified mycobacteria

The use of the COBAS AMPLICOR System (Roche Molecular Diagnostics, Basel, S witzerland), the only automated system for PCR testing, was evaluated for a rapid identification of mycobacteria with positive BACTEC 12B cultures, Tw o hundred ninety-six specimens with a growth index of greater than or equal to 30 Here analyzed for the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex , Mycobacterium avium, and Mycobacterium intracellulare, Compared to tradit ional methods and provided that samples with PCR inhibition are retested at a 1:10 dilution, the sensitivity and specificity of the COBAS AMPLICOR Sys tem with BACTEC 12B cultures were 100 and 98%, respectively. The COBAS;AMPL ICOR method is rapid and reliable for identifying the most common mycobacte ria in cultures.