FIG. 2.

Sensitivity and detection of distinct DNA ratios of multiple species by the ASPE assay. (A) A distinct number of A. baumannii cells (from 10⁴ to 1 cell per assay) were spiked into pooled human blood and detected by the ASPE assay. The dotted line indicates the 2× minimal ratio. (B) Genomic DNAs of A. baumannii, genospecies 3, and genospecies 13TU were mixed in distinct ratios. The amounts of DNA of genospecies 3 and genospecies 13TU were invariable (10 pg), while the amount of DNA of A. baumannii was increased progressively from 100- to 10,000-fold. PCR amplification and the ASPE assay then were conducted to detect the distinct DNA ratios of multiple species. Each column represents the mean (error bars indicate standard deviations). The S/B ratio is the MFI after subtracting the PCR negative-control value and dividing by the PCR negative-control value.