The UAB Diagnostic Mycoplasma Laboratory offers molecular detection of macrolide resistance in M. pneumoniae and both macrolide and fluoroquinolone resistance in M. genitalium directly from clinical specimens. We also offer molecular identification of M. hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and Ureaplasma parvum from a wide array of clinical specimens. Additionally, we provide culture and CLSI M43 antimicrobial susceptibility testing for most cultivatable mollicutes affecting human health. Additional details are provided in our test menu below. For more information please do not hesitate to contact us.

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Mycoplasma pneumoniae
M. pneumoniae is a major cause of Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) with increasing rates of macrolide resistance ranging from 10% (US) to 90% (Asia). The UAB PCR assay is the most analytically sensitive diagnostic test available for this organism. PCR-positive samples are subsequently analyzed by high resolution melt curve analysis to detect point mutations conferring macrolide resistance. To obtain an isolate from clinical specimens and perform antimicrobial susceptibility testing we offer culture and CLSI M43 microbroth dilution.
Test Menu Acceptable Specimens Transport/Processing Details Turnaround
Time		 CPT
Code
PCR- M. pneumoniae
Includes detection of macrolide resistance		 Specimen Sites:
  • Bronchoalveolar lavage
  • Cerebrospinal fluid
  • Endotracheal Aspirate
  • Nasal
  • Saliva
  • Sputum
  • Throat
  • Misc Fluid/Tissue
 Collection Device: Sterile container
(can also be used as transport if received with 48 hours of collection and kept 2-8C)
Transport Media: Mycoplasma Ureaplasma transport media
(examples: M4, M5, UTM, UVTM, eSwab)
Processing Detail: Collect and transfer specimen submerged in appropriate transport medium if available.
Transport: Ship on cold pack if received within 48 hours of collection. If this is not possible, store and ship frozen on dry ice
Stability: 48 hours at 4°C or 2 months frozen at – 70°C
Rejection criteria: Dry swab; Not labeled 		1-4 days 87581
Culture- Respiratory/Miscellaneous
Culture methods enable growth of cultivatable human mycoplasmas including M. pneumoniae and Ureaplasma spp. Reflex PCR is performed to identify isolates to the species level. 		Any site Collection Device: Sterile Container
Transport Media: Mycoplasma Ureaplasma transport media
(examples: M4, M5, UTM, UVTM, eSwab)
Processing Detail: Collect and transfer specimen submerged in appropriate transport medium
Transport: Ship on cold pack if received within 48 hours of collection. If this is not possible, store and ship frozen on dry ice
Stability: 48 hours at 4°C or 2 months frozen at – 70°C Rejection criteria: Dry swab; Not labeled 		6 weeks 87109
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
CLSI M43 microbroth dilution is used. M. pneumoniae panels include Erythromycin, Tetracycline and Levofloxacin. 		Pure Clinical isolate or cut agar block in transport media within 48 hours of observation. Collection Device: Sterile container
Transport Media: Mycoplasma Ureaplasma transport media
(examples: M4, M5, UTM, UVTM, eSwab)
Transport: Ship on Cold pack if sending agar or using appropriate transport media. Can also be frozen at – 70°C and shipped in dry ice
Stability: 48 hours at 4°C or 2 months frozen at – 70°C
Rejection criteria: Not labeled 		Up to 14 days after receipt 87186
Mycoplasma genitalium
M. genitalium is a leading cause of urethritis in men and has been associated with cervicitis and reproductive tract disease in women. It is extremely slow growing and often resistant to the primary antimicrobial agents used to treat mycoplasmas: the macrolides (~40-80% resistant) and quinolones (up to 30% resistant). Despite absence of documented resistance, tetracycline antibiotics cure <45% of M. genitalium infections. Thus, M. genitalium can cause intractable infection. The UAB M. genitalium PCR assay exhibits very high analytical sensitivity for organism detection and is the only available test capable of detecting point mutations conferring macrolide resistance.
Test Menu Acceptable Specimens Transport/Processing Details Turnaround
Time		 CPT
Code
PCR- Mycoplasma genitalium
Includes detection of macrolide resistance
  • Cervical swab
  • Throat
  • Urine
  • Urogenital swab
  • Vaginal swab
 Collection Device: Sterile container (can also be used as transport if received with 48 hours of collection and kept 2-8C)
Transport Media: Mycoplasma Ureaplasma transport media
(examples: M4, M5, UTM, UVTM, eSwab)
Processing Detail: Collect and transfer specimen submerged in appropriate transport medium if available.
Stability: 48 hours at 4°C or 2 months frozen at – 70°C
Rejection criteria: Dry swab; Not labeled 		1-4 days 87581
Urogenital Mollicutes (Ureaplasma spp., M. hominis, etc.)
Ureaplasma urealyticum, U. parvum, and Mycoplasma spp. including M. hominis cause urogenital infections and preterm delivery. Although typically associated with the urogenital tract M. hominis may cause systemic infection, particularly in soft tissues and joints. Likewise, Ureaplasma infection is associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia in the neonatal lung and hyperammonemia syndrome in immunosuppressed solid organ transplant recipients. The UAB multiplex PCR Urogenital Panel detects the 4 most common mollicutes causing urogenital disease (U. urealyticum, U. parvum, M. hominis, and M. genitalium). Individual PCR assays are also available for these pathogens and M. fermentans. Ureaplasma spp. and M. hominis (not M. genitalium) can be isolated from clinical specimens via Urogenital culture and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing performed via CLSI M43 microbroth dilution
Test Menu Acceptable Specimens Transport/Processing Details Turnaround
Time		 CPT
Code
PCR- Urogenital Panel
Panel for urogenital pathogens includes M. hominis, M. genitalium, U. urealyticum and U. parvum		 Specimen Sites:
  • Bronchoalveolar lavage
  • Cervical swab
  • Cerebrospinal fluid
  • Endotracheal Aspirate
  • Misc. Fluid/Tissue
  • Nasal
  • Saliva
  • Sputum
  • Throat
  • Urine
  • Urogenital Swab
  • Vaginal Swab
 Collection Device: Sterile container
(can also be used as transport if received with 48 hours of collection and kept 2-8C)
Transport Media: Mycoplasma Ureaplasma transport media
(examples: M4, M5, UTM, UVTM, eSwab)
Processing Detail: Collect and transfer specimen submerged in appropriate transport medium if available.
Transport: Ship on cold pack if received within 48 hours of collection. If this is not possible, store and ship frozen on dry ice
Stability: 48 hours at 4°C or 2 months frozen at – 70°C
Rejection criteria: Dry swab; Not labeled 		1-4 days 87581 x 4
PCR- Ureaplasma species
Distinguishes U. urealyticum and U. parvum 		Same as for Urogenital panel Same as for Urogenital panel 1-4 days 87798
PCR- Mycoplasma hominis Same as for Urogenital panel Same as for Urogenital panel 1-4 days 87798
PCR- Mycoplasma fermentans Same as for Urogenital panel Same as for Urogenital panel 1-4 days 87798
Culture- Urogenital
Culture methods enable growth of cultivatable human mycoplasmas including Ureaplasma spp. and Mycoplasma hominis. Reflex PCR is used to identify isolates to the species level. 		Any site Collection Device: Sterile container
(can also be used as transport if received with 48 hours of collection and kept 2-8C)
Transport Media: Mycoplasma Ureaplasma transport media
(examples: M4, M5, UTM, UVTM, eSwab)
Processing Detail: Collect and transfer specimen submerged in appropriate transport medium if available.
Transport: Ship on cold pack if received within 48 hours of collection. If this is not possible, store and ship frozen on dry ice
Stability: 48 hours at 4°C or 2 months frozen at – 70°C
Rejection criteria: Dry swab; Not labeled		 7-9 days 87109
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
CLSI M43 microbroth dilution is used. Ureaplasma panels include Erythromycin, Tetracycline and Levofloxacin. Urogenital Mycoplasma spp. are evaluated for resistance to Clindamycin, Tetracycline and Levofloxacin 		Pure clinical isolate or cut agar block in transport media within 48 hours of observation. Collection Device: Sterile container
Transport Media: Mycoplasma Ureaplasma transport media
(examples: M4, M5, UTM, UVTM, eSwab)
Transport: Ship on cold pack if sending agar or using appropriate transport media. Can also be frozen at – 70°C and shipped in dry ice
Stability: 48 hours at 4°C or 2 months frozen at – 70°C
Rejection criteria: Not labeled		 Up to 14 days after receipt of specimen 87186