infectious diseases
Mycoplasmas
Diagnosis of Mycoplasmas
ForM. pneumoniae, nucleic acid–based testing or detection of antibodies ForM. genitalium, nucleic acid–based testing Culture is technically difficult and often unavailable, but laboratory diagnosis is possible with nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) or by detection of antibodies (forM. pneumoniae); frequently, diagnosis must be by exclusion. There are now three NAATs available forM. pneumoniaeas part of commercially available panels that test for multiple respiratory pathogens. NAATs that detectM. genitaliumare commercially available. Mycoplasmas are not visible with light microscopy. 