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  • Title: Performance and suitability of polymerase chain reaction for early detection of bacteria in platelet concentrates.
    Author: Rood IG, Pettersson A, Savelkoul PH, de Korte D.
    Journal: Transfusion; 2011 Sep; 51(9):2006-11. PubMed ID: 21392020.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: In this study the applicability of a 16S rRNA real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and a Staphylococcus genus-specific PCR for screening of bacterial contamination in platelet concentrates (PCs) was determined. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 336 sample bags, from PCs that were routinely tested in the BacT/ALERT (bioMérieux), were collected and frozen until testing by the PCR assays. Based on the BacT/ALERT results, 107 PCs were positive and 229 were negative for bacterial growth. RESULTS: The analytical sensitivity of the 16S rRNA real-time RT-PCR ranged from 5 to 40 colony-forming units (CFUs)/mL. The PCR detected five positive samples, four of which were also positive in the BacT/ALERT. The sensitivity of the test was 3.8%, and the specificity was 99.5%. The analytical sensitivity of the Staphylococcus genus-specific PCR ranged from 5 to 15 CFUs/mL. Thirty-nine units that were BacT/ALERT positive for staphylococci were tested with this PCR. Six samples were positive with the PCR, five of which were also BacT/ALERT positive. The sensitivity of the Staphylococcus genus-specific PCR was 12.8%, and the specificity was 98.8%. CONCLUSION: Despite the rapid availability of results compared to the BacT/ALERT, the analytical sensitivity of a generic or specific PCR assay is not high enough to be an alternative for the BacT/ALERT when PCs are screened on the day of production.
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