Ka. Nash et al., DETECTION OF RIFAMPIN RESISTANCE IN MYCOBACTERIUM-TUBERCULOSIS BY USEOF A RAPID, SIMPLE, AND SPECIFIC RNA RNA MISMATCH ASSAY/, The Journal of infectious diseases, 176(2), 1997, pp. 533-536
An adaption of an RNA/RNA duplex, base pair-mismatch assay is capable
of detecting rifampin resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, The sp
ecificity and sensitivity of the mismatch assay in detecting rifampin
resistance were 100% and 96%, respectively, when tested against 46 rif
ampin-resistant and rifampin-susceptible strains of M. tuberculosis, B
y use of a range of mycobacterial and nonmycobacterial prokaryote path
ogens, the mismatch assay was shown to be specific for M. tuberculosis
and Mycobacterium bovis. The assay is cost-effective compared with DN
A sequencing and other molecular methods and is simple to perform and
interpret, Furthermore, the assay can return a result within 24 h afte
r receipt of an isolated organism and potentially can be used directly
with smear-positive specimens.