Chapter 14: New Diagnostic Methods
by Enrico Tortoli and Juan Carlos Palomino
14.1. Introduction
The diagnosis of mycobacterial infections remained practically unchanged for many decades and probably would have not progressed at all without the unexpected resurgence of tuberculosis (TB) which characterized the last twenty years of the 20th century.
With microscopy lacking wide margins for improvement, the areas which most benefited from the renewed interest in TB were culture and identification, while a completely new approach emerged, aimed towards the direct detection of mycobacterial nucleic acids in clinical specimens.
14.2. Automated culture methods
Although known for decades, liquid media for cultivation of mycobacteria had never attracted the attention of mycobacteriologists. In fact, the ability of a liquid medium to support a faster growth was heavily hampered by its susceptibility to contamination. The use of antimicrobial combinations suitable of inhibiting the growth of the whole spectrum of potential contaminants (Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as fungi) represented a turning point.
During the same period, automation was taking its first steps in microbiology, with blood cultures leading the field. The apparently banal idea of exporting such technology to mycobacterial cultures evolved into selective liquid media, which were a breakthrough for diagnostic mycobacteriology.
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14.2.1. BACTEC TB-460 The BACTEC TB-460 system (Becton Dickinson, Sparks, MD) was the first, and for many years the only, automated approach in mycobacteriology. It makes use of a radiometric instrumentation developed for blood cultures with the broth bottles replaced by vials containing a medium specific for mycobacteria. The principle The medium: A modified Middlebrook 7H9 medium is used, in which one of the components, palmitic acid, is radiolabeled with 14C. Contamination is controlled by the addition, prior to use, of a mixture of polymyxin B, amphotericin B, nalidixic acid, trimethoprim and azlocillin (PANTA) reconstituted with a poly-oxyethylene solution. The use of such a combination of antibiotics does not eliminate the decontamination step, which needs to be performed before inoculation of the samples. The vials containing the medium remain sealed through the whole culture process and the specimen is inoculated by puncturing the rubber septum with a needle (Figure 14-1). Figure 14-1: Inoculation of a BACTEC vial The instrumentation: Once the paired needles have perforated the rubber septum of the vial, the gaseous phase is aspirated and replaced with air containing 5 % CO2. The aspirated gas is analyzed by a ß-counter to quantify the eventual presence of radiolabeled CO2 (Figure 14-2). The rationale: When viable mycobacteria are present in the culture vial, the radio-labeled palmitic acid is metabolized and radioactive CO2 is liberated into the gaseous phase. The performance The BACTEC TB-460 was first commercialized in 1980 and soon became popular worldwide. It is not a fully automated system, as the vials, which are held in an external incubator, must be loaded into the instrument for reading. The reading is usually performed twice a week during the first 15 days of incubation, and weekly thereafter, until the 42nd day. BACTEC TB-460 is still used in many laboratories worldwide but its glorious course is starting to wane. The increasing cost of radioactive waste disposal and the interest of the manufacturer to promote newly-developed alternative systems are slowly prevailing over its still excellent performance. Figure 14-2: The BACTEC TB-460 instrument From the first evaluations, BACTEC TB-460 revealed a clear superiority over solid media systems in terms of sensitivity and time to detection of positive culture (Middlebrook 1977, Damato 1983, Morgan 1983, Takahashi 1983, Park 1984, Siddiqi 1984). Many years later, despite the release of new systems, the BACTEC radiometric method is still competitive (Alcaide 2000, Brunello 1999, Laverdiere 2000, Piersimoni 2001, Badak 1996, Ganeswrie 2004, Scarparo 2002, Tortoli 1998, Tortoli 1999). The BACTEC TB-460 system is also suitable for mycobacterial blood culture using designated bottles. 14.2.2. BACTEC MGIT960 The BACTEC MGIT960 system (Becton Dickinson, Sparks MD) uses the technology of the previously developed blood culture instrument. The original system (BACTEC 9000) was first adjusted to support mycobacterial cultures but was subsequently completely redesigned to process tubes, which are much less cumbersome to handle than the original bottles. The principle The medium: Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) is a modified Middlebrook 7H9 medium in which a supplement is added at the moment of use. The supplement is a mixture of oleic acid, albumin, dextrose, and catalase (OADC) enrichment and the same PANTA antibiotic mixture used in the radiometric system. The presence of PANTA does not do away with the decontamination step, which needs to be done before inoculation. As the tubes containing the medium are screw-capped, no needle is needed for inoculation. A silicon film embedded with a ruthenium salt is present at the bottom of the tube as a fluorescence indicator (Figure 14-3). Figure 14-3: MGIT tube The instrumentation: Incubator and reader are combined in a single cabinet (Figure 14-4). The bottom of each tube, stimulated by ultraviolet light, is monitored by a fluorescence reader. Fluorescence-emitting tubes are reported as positive. It is also possible to use the MGIT tubes without instrumentation, by holding the tubes in a normal incubator and observing the fluorescence under a Wood’s lamp. The rationale: The oxygen normally present in the medium quenches the natural fluorescence of the ruthenium salt. If viable mycobacteria are present in the tube, oxygen is consumed due to their metabolism, the quenching effect lowers accordingly, and the bottom of the tube fluoresces when exposed to ultraviolet light. Figure 14-4: The MGIT960 instrument The performance The BACTEC MGIT960 is a typical walk-away instrumentation which monitors the tubes at one-hour intervals, alerts when they become positive and signals the end of the incubation period. Many studies have evaluated the BACTEC MGIT960 in comparison with similar competitor systems and also with solid media. BACTEC MGIT960 turned out to be clearly faster and more sensitive than solid media, while the comparison with other automated and semi-automated systems revealed substantially overlapping performance (Alcaide 2000, Badak 1996, Scarparo 2002, Tortoli 1999, Casal 1997, Pfyffer 1997, Tortoli 1997). Mycobacterial blood cultures cannot be performed with this system. 14.2.3. VersaTREK The VersaTREK (previously known as the ESP system II) uses the technology of a previously developed blood culture system and is commercialized by Trek Diagnostic Systems. The principle The medium: It uses a modified Middlebrook 7H9 medium to which the OADC enrichment must be added. Two different antimicrobial mixtures are available. The first one, also known as AS, includes polymyxin B, azlocillin, fosfomycin, nalidixic acid, and amphotericin B. The second contains polymyxin B, vancomycin, nalidixic acid, and amphotericin B (PVNA). Usually, AS is used for specimens originating from sterile samples or with a low risk of contamination, while PVNA is used for heavily-contaminated samples. The presence of such antimicrobial mixtures for contamination control does not eliminate the decontamination step, which needs to be performed before inoculating the sample. The bottles of medium (Figure 14-5) hold a cellulose sponge whose large surface area allegedly improves growth. Bottles are inoculated through a rubber septum by means of a syringe. Figure 14-5: VersaTREK bottle (Courtesy of TREK Diagnostic Systems) The instrumentation: Incubator and reader are combined in a single cabinet (Figure 14-6), which also shakes the bottles during the incubation. The pressure within each bottle is monitored by a manometer through a proper connector. Cultures presenting a decreased headspace pressure are reported as positive. The rationale: If viable mycobacteria are present in the bottle, the oxygen consumption due to their metabolism reduces the internal pressure. The performance VersaTREK is a typical walk-away instrumentation which continuously monitors the bottles, alerts when they become positive and signals the end of the incubation period. Several studies have evaluated VersaTREK in comparison with solid media and similar automated and semi-automated competitor systems. VersaTREK clearly performs better than solid media but shows no substantial advantage over other systems (Tortoli 1998, Williams-Bouyer 2000, Woods 1997). Figure 14-6: The VersaTREK instrument (Courtesy of TREK Diagnostic Systems) Mycobacterial blood cultures can also be performed with the VersaTREK system. However, whole blood cannot be used and a previous treatment is required to obtain sediment for inoculation. Either a buffy-coat or sediment obtained with the lysis-centrifugation method is suitable to inoculate the bottles. The lysis-centrifugation method (Isolator, Oxoid, United Kingdom) consists of saponin-containing tubes to lyse blood cells, a proper centrifugation procedure, and special pipettes for elimination of supernatant and collection of the sediment. 14.2.4. BacT/Alert 3D BacT/Alert 3D (previously known as MB/BacT) is commercialized by bioMérieux and uses the technology of a previously developed blood culture system. The principle The medium: A modified Middlebrook 7H9 medium is used in which a supplement, a mixture of OADC enrichment and polymyxin B, amphotericin B, nalidixic acid, trimethoprim, vancomycin and azlocillin, is added at the moment of use. The presence of such contamination-controlling antibiotics does not eliminate the decontamination step needed before inoculation. The bottles of medium have a CO2 sensor at the bottom and are inoculated through a rubber septum by means of a syringe. The instrumentation: Incubator and reader are combined in a single machine (Figure 14-7) which does not shake the bottles during incubation. Figure 14-7: The BacT/Alert system The CO2 sensor is impacted by a light whose reflected ray is monitored by a photodiode (Figure 14-8). Bottles producing specific changes in the intensity of the reflected light are reported as positive. The rationale: If viable mycobacteria are present in the bottle, the CO2 produced by their metabolism causes a change in the color of the sensor, from green to yellow, which alters the intensity of the reflected light ray (Figure 14-9). Figure 14-8: The BacT/Alert technology Figure 14-9: Negative and positive bottles The performance BacT/ALERT 3D is a typical walk-away instrumentation which monitors the bottles at 10-min intervals, alerts when they become positive, and signals the end of the incubation period. Many studies have evaluated the BacT/ALERT 3D. The system turned out to be clearly faster and more sensitive than conventional media, while the comparison with other automated and semi-automated systems did not reveal significant differences (Alcaide 2000, Brunello 1999, Laverdiere 2000, Nogales 1999, Piersimoni 2001, Roggenkamp 2000, Rohner 1997, Saito 2000, Yan 2000). The system is also suitable for mycobacterial blood cultures, provided proper bottles are used; no previous treatment of the blood is required. 14.3. Nucleic acid amplification methods When the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodology took its first steps into diagnostic microbiology, a restricted number of micro-organisms appeared to have the potential to benefit from the novel technique. M. tuberculosis was among them, and the dream of the rapid diagnosis of TB appeared to be about to come true. 14.3.1. In house methods for diagnosis of tuberculosis One of the first findings on the way to developing a PCR technique (Figure 14-10) aimed at M. tuberculosis detection was that, although different targets were investigated, none of them were suitable for differentiating M. tuberculosis from other species belonging to the M. tuberculosis complex. Such limitation, due to the extremely high genome similarity (close to 100 %) among the members of the M. tuberculosis complex, did not, however, cool the enthusiasm. In fact, the differentiation of such species is of very limited relevance from the clinical and therapeutic point of view. Figure 14-10: PCR Among the first proposed genomic targets for diagnostic PCR was the newly detected insertion element IS6110 which, being present in multiple copies (from four to 20 in more than 95 % of M. tuberculosis strains), appeared to have the potential for an enhanced sensitivity (Figure 14-11). Other successfully used desoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) regions include the 65 kiloDalton (kDa) heat-shock protein gene, the gene encoding the 126 kDa fusion protein, and the gene encoding the ß-subunit of ribonucleic acid (RNA) polymerase; all of them are present in single copies in M. tuberculosis complex genomes. Figure 14-11: M. tuberculosis genome with six copies of IS6110 In the ’90s, many laboratories developed various in house PCR protocols and soon the aspiration of an increased sensitivity led to the adoption of “nested” PCR. In this procedure, the amplification of a large region of DNA is followed by a second amplification targeted to a shorter internal stretch. Most of such in house PCR procedures achieved a sensitivity never matched by commercial systems but were often burdened by the high incidence of false positive results due to amplicon cross-contamination of specimens. In subsequent years, with the purpose of avoiding the PCR patent, alternative amplification methods were developed. Most successful were the reverse transcriptase PCR, the ligase chain reaction, and the strand displacement amplification. 14.3.2. Commercial methods In the last few years, several amplification methods have been commercialized; only four methods have gained worldwide diffusion and been widely validated by international studies, although one of them (LCx, Abbott) is no longer on the market. Amplified MTD Amplified Mycobacterium tuberculosis Direct Test (AMTD), developed by GenProbe (San Diego, CA, USA), is an isothermal (42°C) transcriptase-mediated amplification system. The principle A M. tuberculosis complex-specific region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene produces double-stranded ribosomal DNA, due to the combined action of reverse-transcriptase and ribonuclease. In turn, RNA polymerase catalyzes the synthesis of multiple stretches of ribosomal RNA from the ribosomal DNA synthesized before. A new cycle starts when the newly produced ribosomal RNA undergoes further transcription by reverse transcriptase (Figure 14-12). The sensitivity of the method is increased by the presence, in each bacterium, of a high number of 16S ribosomal RNA target molecules (about 2,000) compared to only one copy of 16S ribosomal DNA. Another advantage of the amplification from RNA relies on the low stability of such a molecule; this minimizes both the risk of contamination and the incidence of false-positive results due to the persistency of stable nucleic acids (DNA) in the host organism, even after the complete eradication of the infection. The detection of amplification products relies on hybridization with a specific, single-strand DNA probe labeled with a chemiluminescent molecule (Hybridization Protection Assay). Figure 14-12: The cycle of the transcriptase-mediated amplification The features The whole process is performed manually, starting with the extraction by means of sonication, continuing with the addition of different reagents until the final reading with the luminometer (Figure 14-13). Thermal-cyclers are not needed and the whole amplification step is carried out on a heating block at 42°C. The turnaround time is 2.5 hours. No internal control is provided in the kit to monitor the presence of inhibitors. The method is approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States of America (US FDA) for testing smear-positive and smear-negative respiratory samples. Figure 14-13: The luminometer The performance From a review of the huge amount of literature available, sensitivity ranging from 91.7 % to 100 % in smear-positive samples and from 65.5 % to 92.9 % in acid fast bacilli (AFB) smear-negative samples has been reported (Alcala 2001, Chedore 1999, Chedore 2002, Gamboa 1998, O’Sullivan 2002, Piersimoni 2003, Woods 2001). To reduce the prevalence of false-positive results, an equivocal zone in the interpretation of results has been recently introduced with the recommendation of retesting samples scoring within this range (Kerleguer 2003, Middleton 2002). Amplicor MTB Test The Amplicor MTB Test (Roche Molecular Systems, Basel, Switzerland) relies on standard PCR. The principle A 584 bp fragment of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene, comprising a species-specific region flanked by genus-specific sequences, is amplified using biotinylated primers. In the master mix, an unusual combination of nucleotides is present – as an adjunct to adenine, guanidine and cytosine, uracil is used in place of thymine. As a consequence, the amplification product differs from the target DNA in that it contains uracil instead of thymine. This device is part of a contamination-control system based on the use of uracil-N-glycosylase, an enzyme that fragments DNA wherever uracil is present. The enzyme, added to the samples before amplification, destroys any amplicon resulting from previous amplifications without damaging the uracil-free target DNA. Because of the genus-specific nature of the annealing regions, 16S ribosomal DNA belonging to any mycobacterial species is amplified by this PCR. The use, in the revealing phase, of magnetic beads coated with M. tuberculosis complex-specific probes allows the removal, by washing, of any other DNA. The detection of the specific amplification product is performed by adding an avidin-enzyme conjugate and a chromogenic substrate. The features The amplification and detection steps are carried out automatically by the Cobas Amplicor instrument (Figure 14-14). Once the sample extraction has been performed by heating (95°C), the tube is placed in the thermal cycler integrated in the Cobas instrument. Without further handling, the amplification product will be automatically transferred into the detection station where the chromogenic reaction is developed and read. The turnaround time is 6-7 hours. The method is approved by the US FDA for testing smear-positive respiratory samples. It includes an internal control, composed of synthetic DNA characterized by identical annealing sequences as the mycobacterial target; when this is not amplified, it signals the presence of inhibitors. The detection of M. tuberculosis complex DNA can also be carried out without the Cobas instrument, using a manual kit that, however, does not include an internal control. Other Amplicor kits are available for detection of Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare DNA in clinical samples. Figure 14-14: The Cobas Amplicor instrumentation The performance From the literature review, specificity is close to 100 % while sensitivity ranges from 90 % to 100 % in smear-positive samples and from 50 % to 95.9 % in smear-negative ones (Bogard 2001, Eing 1998, Gamboa 1997, Gomez-Pastrana 2000, Mitarai 2000, Piersimoni 2003, Rajalahti 1998, Reischl 1998, Shah 1998). BD ProbeTec ET The BD ProbeTec ET (Becton Dickinson, Sparks, MD) uses DNA polymerase and isothermal strand displacement amplification to produce multiple copies of IS6110, an insertion element unique to M. tuberculosis complex. The principle The rationale of strand displacement amplification is extremely complex; what is presented here is an extreme simplification. In the initial phase (target amplification), amplification is started by two pairs of primers complementary to contiguous sequences delimiting the target. The elongation of the upstream primer, also named bumper, determines the displacement of the simultaneously elongating downstream primer and finally releases the produced amplicon. A restriction site, present in the downstream primer, will also be present in the released amplicon (Figure 14-15A). In the exponential amplification phase, a new primer anneals to the amplicon and, following digestion by the restriction enzyme, the upstream fragment acts as bumper and displaces the downstream fragment (Figure 14-15B). Real-time detection is based on the energy transfer technology. A hair-pin-shaped probe, complementary to IS6110, is marked by two fluorescent molecules, one of which, the donor, is quenched by the other, the acceptor; furthermore, it presents a restriction site in the sequence between the two markers (Figure 14-16A). Once its free end has hybridized with the amplification product, the probe undergoes elongation (Figure 14-16BC) before being displaced by a primer annealed upstream to the same amplicon (Figure 14-16D). The elongation makes the probe able to bind a new primer (Figure 14-16E) which, while elongating, stretches out the “hair-pin” and moves the acceptor away from the donor (Figure 14-16FGH). The nicking of the restriction site by a proper enzyme further separates donor and acceptor and allows the first to free a fluorescence signal (Figure 14-16I). Figure 14-15: ProbeTec ET amplification cycles The features Some manipulation is required before introduction of the sample into the automatic instrument (Figure 14-17); each sample is first inactivated at 105°C, and then sonicated to extract the DNA, transferred into a priming well at 72.5°C, and subsequently into an amplification well at 54°C. In the BD ProbeTec ET instrument, the microplate containing the samples and the amplification reagents is incubated at 52.5°C and the fluorescence emitted is continuously monitored. A thermal cycler is not required. The turnaround time is 3.5 to 4 hours. An internal control is present, characterized by the same annealing sequences as the mycobacterial target. In case of amplification failure, this control alerts for the presence of inhibitors. Figure 14-16: The detection step of ProbeTec ET The system is not yet approved by the US FDA. Kits are also available for the amplification of nucleic acids of M. avium, M. intracellulare and Mycobacterium kansasii. The performance The literature reports a rate of sensitivity ranging from 98.5 % to 100 % for smear-positive samples and very variable (0.33 %-100 %) for smear-negative ones (Barrett 2002, Bergmann 1998, Bergmann 2000, Johansen 2002, Maugein 2002, Mazzarelli 2003, Pfyffer 1998, Piersimoni 2002). Figure 14-17: The BD ProbeTec ET instrument 14.3.3. Comments on amplification methods Although direct amplification methods are used worldwide, they are far from having revolutionized clinical mycobacteriology. Culture, supported by microscopy, still remains the gold standard, and molecular methods only represent a useful support in some cases, to speed up the diagnosis of TB. The unsatisfactory sensitivity is the major limitation of amplification-based methods. It is now evident that paucibacillary specimens have little chance of being detected by molecular amplification. Factors that contribute to the reduction of the sensitivity are the uneven distribution of bacilli in the sample, the suboptimal extraction of nucleic acids, and sometimes the presence of inhibitors. The phenol-chloroform extraction unquestionably provides the best yield but, being cumbersome and time consuming, also raises the risk of contamination. To minimize this risk and to make the technique user friendly, the commercial systems have probably oversimplified this step by reducing it to sonication or heat treatment only. The sediment of a number of samples contains substances inhibiting the amplification process. The reason for their presence is unknown and at present there is no known method for neutralizing them. The use of an internal control represents a major feature to be taken into account at the moment of choosing an amplification method. Although the specificity of amplification methods is substantially good, the possibility of false-positive results should be borne in mind by both microbiologists and clinicians. A therapy like the one against TB, which is long and not exempt from side-effects, should not be undertaken only on the basis of a positive result of a single amplification test. The major reason for false-positive nucleic acid amplification results is the contamination of samples, possibly in the pre-analytic, but mostly in the analytic phase. The application of dedicated procedures, such as the one employing uracil-N-glycosylase or the adoption of sealed amplification chambers, is useful. More important still are general precautions such as the frequent decontamination of the work environment with 10 % bleach and the exposure of pipettes, tips and bench surfaces to ultraviolet light when not in use. Finally, a major role is played by the training and the expertise of the operator. A particular category of false-positive results is that concerning samples obtained from patients under treatment. In these patients, the detectability of mycobacterial DNA over a long period of time, despite the effectiveness of the treatment, is well known and clearly makes DNA amplification useless for treatment monitoring. The above limitations and recommendations have also been stressed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, detailed information on the internet at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4926a3.htm) (Figure 14-18). The observance of such recommendations is extremely important. However, the CDC’s advice against the use of commercial PCR methods with non-respiratory samples may appear outdated nowadays. In recent years, a number of articles have been published showing that the amplification methods can be of use for extrapulmonary specimens too, although impaired by lower sensitivity. Still, their limitations should be kept in mind and a system with internal control should be used due to the high frequency of inhibitors (Alcala 2001, Chedore 1999, Chedore 2002, Eing 1998, Gamboa 1998, Johansen 2002, Maugein 2002, Mazzarelli 2003, O’Sullivan 2002, Reischl 1998, Rimek 2002, Woods 2001). An obvious, but often disregarded, point is that the lower sensitivity is not, in the large majority of cases, due to the extrapulmonary origin but to the lower bacterial load inherent to such samples. Among the impressive amount of publications assessing different amplification methods and the few studies concerning direct comparisons (Della-Latta 1998, Piersimoni 2002, Scarparo 2000), none convincingly demonstrates the superiority of one over the others. All are characterized by equally good specificity and insufficient sensitivity. The substantially similar performance of all systems makes it difficult to understand the different rating given by the FDA to the systems available on the market. Figure 14-18: CDC recommendations for interpretation of nucleic acid amplification tests 14.3.4. Future prospects Real-time PCR now seems to be on the point of being adapted for the diagnosis of TB. The evident delay at this step, in contrast with its well established use in other fields of diagnostic microbiology, suggests the emergence of some problems. Major expectations are concerned with the increase in sensitivity, while the availability of quantitative results may represent the first step towards its use for treatment monitoring. Nevertheless, despite its evident usefulness and potential improvements, it seems unlikely that nucleic acid amplification can replace culture for diagnosis of TB in the short term. Culturing is still essential for monitoring the response to therapy and testing antimicrobial susceptibility. 14.4. Genetic identification methods Following the extraordinary development of molecular methods, the identification of mycobacteria, previously based on phenotypic investigations, suddenly started to rely on genotypic methods. Different genetic approaches developed in research laboratories became rapidly popular in diagnostic laboratories and some of them were transformed into commercial diagnostic kits. 14.4.1. PCR restriction-enzyme analysis The principle The PCR restriction-enzyme analysis (PRA) method is based on the amplification of a 441-bp fragment of the hsp65 gene by PCR, followed by the digestion of the amplified product with two restriction enzymes BstEII and HaeIII according to the procedure first described by Telenti (Telenti 1993). The products of the digestion reaction are then separated and visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis (Figure 14-19). The restriction pattern thus obtained is compared to an algorithm present in the PRASITE available on the internet at http://app.chuv.ch/prasite/index.html. This database comprises 74 PRA patterns corresponding to 38 defined species of mycobacteria. In recent years, several novel PRA patterns from newly characterized species have been described. The PRA method has also been used with other genomic regions for the identification of mycobacteria such as the rpoB and gyrB genes with good results (Lee 2000, Goh 2006). BstEII HaeIII Figure 14-19: PRA patterns of different species of mycobacteria (Courtesy S. Leão) The features The PRA method can be applied on heat-inactivated and washed bacterial suspensions obtained from mycobacteria grown either on solid or in liquid medium. There is only one report on the direct application of PRA to clinical samples (Magalhaes 2002). Being an in house method, and when properly standardized, it is a convenient alternative to more costly commercial identification methods. The performance There are many studies on the application of the PRA-hsp65 method for the rapid identification of mycobacteria. In general, the method has proved to be practical, cost-effective, and highly accurate for mycobacterial identification. In a recent multicenter evaluation, performed in eight laboratories in Latin America that received a set of coded strains for identification, the PRA-hsp65 method proved to be highly accurate and easy to perform. The accuracy of the identification can be further improved when combined with minimal microbiological characteristics such as growth rate and pigmentation. Nevertheless, attention should be paid to a few technical details such as gel preparation and running, and some training is needed in the interpretation of patterns (Leão 2005). 14.4.2. DNA probes The DNA-probe technology for identification of fastidious organisms is still one of the most successful molecular diagnostic procedures worldwide. In this sense, the role played by commercial DNA probes in the quality improvement of mycobacterial identification in clinical laboratories cannot be disregarded. AccuProbe The precursor system, AccuProbe (Gen-Probe, San Diego, CA), was developed almost 20 years ago. It is still very popular, mainly due to its extremely simple procedure. Indeed, it is the only DNA-probe system not requiring previous amplification of the target. The principle The probe is a single-stranded DNA oligonucleotide, complementary to a short, species-specific sequence within a hypervariable region of the 16S ribosomal DNA. It is labeled with an acridinium ester, a chemiluminescent molecule, which gives light when properly excited. Once the mycobacterial cell has been lysed by sonication, the extract is mixed with the probe under stringent conditions, allowing their hybridization only in case they are 100 % complementary. As the chemiluminescent marker, easily accessible in the native probe, turns out to be protected in the double-stranded hybrid (Hybridization Protection Assay), the addition of a hydrolyzing agent makes the first undetectable without affecting the second. Any hybridization is accompanied by light emission, which is detected with a luminometer, thus simplifying the identification of the test strain. The features Different AccuProbe kits are available for identifying mycobacteria belonging to the M. tuberculosis complex, the M. avium complex and the species M. kansasii, Mycobacterium gordonae, M. avium and M. intracellulare. They can be used on cultures grown either on solid or in liquid medium. The only equipment