Simple and Rapid Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP)-based Assay for <em>Mycoplasma pneumoniae</em> Detection

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumonia) can cause several different types of infection including chest colds and pneumonia. M. pneumoniae is a leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia. People of all ages are at risk for getting M. pneumonia infection, but it is most common among young adults and school-aged children. Current methods of detecting this agent are laborious and time consuming, so testing is not usually performed. However, knowing whether someone has M. pneumoniae infection is important for choosing the right antibiotic for treatment. Although real-time PCR assays exist for detecting this pathogen, they require sophisticated and expensive machinery as well as specialized technical expertise. CDC researchers have developed a simple loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)-based assay to detect this pathogen. This method only requires a simple heat block and is an easy-to-read colorimetric assay. The technology is simple to perform and can be a rapid point-of-care kit. It is ideal for use in resource-limited laboratories, hospitals, clinics, and community settings.