Usefulness of the MicroSeq 500 16S rDNA bacterial identification system for identification of anaerobic Gram positive bacilli isolated from blood cultures
- S K P Lau1,
- K H L Ng2,
- P C Y Woo1,
- K-t Yip2,
- A M Y Fung1,
- G K S Woo1,
- K-m Chan1,
- T-l Que2,
- K-y Yuen1
- 1Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, University Pathology Building, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
- 2Department of Clinical Pathology, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hong Kong
- Correspondence to: Dr K-Y Yuen Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, University Pathology Building, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong; hkumicro{at}hkucc.hku.hk
- Accepted 13 April 2005
Abstract
Using full 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing as the gold standard, 20 non-duplicating anaerobic Gram positive bacilli isolated from blood cultures were analysed by the MicroSeq 500 16S rDNA bacterial identification system. The MicroSeq system successfully identified 13 of the 20 isolates. Four and three isolates were misidentified at the genus and species level, respectively. Although the MicroSeq 500 16S rDNA bacterial identification system is better than three commercially available identification systems also evaluated, its database needs to be expanded for accurate identification of anaerobic Gram positive bacilli.
