TABLE 1.

Real-time PCR hybridization probe-based testing of microorganisms

Sample type and species or groupa	No. of samples	PCR sensitivity (%)	PCR specificity (%)
Positive-control organisms
Klebsiella pneumoniae (type strain ATCC 13883)	1
Klebsiella pneumoniae (clinical isolates)	141	100
Total	142
Negative-control organisms
Klebsiella oxytoca (clinical samples)	3		100
Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922, ATCC 35218, NCTC 10418)	10		100
Escherichia coli (O157:H7, clinical isolates)	10		100
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853, clinical isolates)	10		100
Streptococcus pneumoniae (ATCC 49619, NCTC 7465)	10		100
Streptococcus pyogenes (group A)	1		100
Streptococcus agalactiae (group B)	1		100
Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923, ATCC 29213)	7		100
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSAb; ATCC 43300)	4		100
Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212, clinical isolate)	3		100
Enterococcus faecium (EQASc, clinical isolate)	2		100
Haemophilus influenzae (ATCC 49247, clinical isolate)	2		100
Neisseria meningitidis (EQAS)	1		100
Neisseria gonorrhoeae (ATCC 49226)	1		100
Total	65		100
Double-blind samples
First group (tested positive for K. pneumoniae)	4	100
Second group (no above-background fluorescence)	48		100
Total	52

^aStrain numbers and/or further descriptive information is given in parentheses.

^bMRSA, methicillin-resistant S. aureus.

^cEQAS, External Quality Assurance System.