Mycoplasma Serology Test: Diagnosis of M. pneumoniae Infection
Synonyms
Eaton-Agent Titer, M. pneumoniae Titer, Mycoplasma Antibodies, PPLO Titer, Mycoplasma Serology Test
Test Commonly Includes
Detection of antibodies in response to Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.
Specimen
Type: Serum
Container: Red top tube
Sampling Time
Both acute and convalescent sera drawn 10–14 days apart are required.
Reference Range
Negative
Use
To support the diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.
Limitations
False positives may occur in patients with pancreatitis.
Methodology
Complement fixation (CF), indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA), enzyme immunoassay (EIA)
Additional Information
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a major cause of primary atypical pneumonia. Due to the difficulty in culturing the organism, serologic testing is a preferred diagnostic method. Complement fixation and metabolic inhibition tests are better than cold agglutinin tests but require paired sera. Immunofluorescence methods for detecting IgG or IgM antibodies provide a rapid, specific diagnosis—IgM indicates acute infection. A DNA probe test has shown 95% sensitivity and 85% specificity. While throat swab testing has limited current value, it may become a preferred method in the future.
References
- Kleemola SR et al., J Infect Dis, 1990.
- Smith TF, Mayo Clin Proc, 1986.
- Jacobs et al., Laboratory Test Handbook, Lexi-Comp Inc, 1994.
