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HelpTest Code MYCON Mycoplasma pneumoniae Antibody Interpretation
Specimen Required
Only orderable as part of a profile. For more information see MYCO / Mycoplasma pneumoniae Antibodies, IgG and IgM, Serum.
Secondary ID
48319Method Name
Only orderable as part of a profile. For more information see MYCO / Mycoplasma pneumoniae Antibodies, IgG and IgM, Serum.
Technical Interpretation
Reporting Name
M. pneumoniae Ab InterpretationSpecimen Type
SerumSpecimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serum | Refrigerated (preferred) | 14 days | |
| Frozen | 14 days |
Reference Values
Only orderable as part of a profile. For more information see MYCO / Mycoplasma pneumoniae Antibodies, IgG and IgM, Serum.
Negative
Method Description
Automated interpretation of IgM and IgG antibody results for Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
Performing Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
LOINC Code Information
| Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| MYCON | M. pneumoniae Ab Interpretation | In Process |
| Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| MYCON | M. pneumoniae Ab Interpretation | 69048-7 |
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Friday
Report Available
Same day/1 to 3 daysCautions
A diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection should not be solely based on results of serologic testing for this agent. Test results should be interpreted in conjunction with clinical evaluation and the results of other diagnostic procedures (eg, molecular detection).
The continued presence or absence of antibodies cannot be used to determine the success or failure of therapy.
Testing should not be performed as a screening procedure for the general population. Testing should only be done when clinical evidence suggests the diagnosis of M pneumoniae-associated disease.
The performance of this test has not been established on neonates and immunocompromised patients.
Performance of the IgM assay has not been tested with specimens known to be positive for antibodies to organisms that are known to be associated with lower respiratory illness (ie, influenza A and B, cytomegalovirus, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, parainfluenza), and closely related serovars known to cross-react with M pneumoniae, such as M genitalium and M hominis, as well as various Ureaplasma species. Cross-reactivity studies with such organisms have not been performed with this assay.
The IgG removal system included with the IgM test system has been shown to functionally remove the IgG from specimens containing total IgG levels ranging from 300 to 600 mg/mL. The effectiveness of this removal system at IgG levels exceeding 600 mg/mL has not been established.
Useful For
Interpretation for Mycoplasma pneumoniae screening results
Clinical Information
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a small bacterium transmitted via organism-containing droplets. It is a cause of upper respiratory infection, pharyngitis, and tracheobronchitis, particularly in children, and has been associated with approximately 20% of cases of community-acquired pneumonia. Central nervous system and cardiac manifestations are probably the most frequent extrapulmonary complications of infections due to M pneumoniae. The disease is usually self-limited, although severe disease has been reported in immunocompromised patients.
Identification of M pneumoniae by culture-based methods is time consuming and insensitive. Serology-based assays for M pneumoniae have several drawbacks. The development of IgM antibodies takes approximately 1 week, and the IgM response may be variable in adults or decreased in immunosuppressed individuals. Confirmation of the disease is dependent on the observation of a 4-fold rise in IgG antibody titers between acute and convalescent specimens, several weeks following the initial onset of illness, providing clinical utility only for retrospective testing. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis offers a rapid and sensitive option for detection of M pneumoniae DNA from clinical specimens allows for diagnosis of acute or current infection.
Interpretation
|
IgG ELISA result |
IgM ELISA result |
Interpretation |
|
Positive |
Negative |
Results suggest past exposure. |
|
Positive
|
Reactive |
Prior exposure to Mycoplasma pneumoniae detected. Confirmatory testing for IgM to M pneumonia will be performed by an immunofluorescence assay. |
|
Equivocal |
||
|
Negative |
Negative |
No antibodies to M pneumoniae detected. Acute infection cannot be ruled out as antibody levels may be below the limit of detection. If clinically indicated, a second serum should be submitted in 14 to 21 days. |
|
Negative |
Reactive |
No prior exposure to Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Confirmatory testing for IgM to M pneumonia will be performed by an immunofluorescence assay. |
|
Equivocal |
||
|
Equivocal |
Negative |
Recommend follow-up testing in 10 to 14 days if clinically indicated. |
|
Reactive |
Confirmatory testing for IgM to M pneumonia will be performed by an immunofluorescence assay. |
|
|
Equivocal |
ELISA = Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
Clinical Reference
1. Smith T: Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections: diagnosis based on immunofluorescence titer of IgG and IgM antibodies. Mayo Clin Proc 1986;61:830-831
2. Holzman RS, Simberkoff MS, Leaf HL: Mycoplasma pneumoniae and atypical pneumonia. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Elsevier; 2020:2332-2339