Mycoplasma pneumoniae serology Blood – NOTE: This test is no longer routinely available.

Diagnostic Use

From the 04 March 2024 Canterbury Health Laboratories (CHL) will no longer perform serology for the detection of antibodies to B. pertussis and M. pneumoniae. Neither of these tests have the robustness required to be a reliable diagnostic path in acute disease.
In the event of an acute illness due to either pathogen PCR testing is the test of choice.
In rare circumstances when serology may be required, please contact a microbiologist to discuss the case. There may be an option to have the test performed at a reference laboratory in NZ or overseas and we are happy to facilitate this if clinically indicated.

Department

Microbiology - Serology

Delphic Registration Code

MPNM

Turnaround Time

7 days

Test Code

2419

Specimen Type

• Serum

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• Serum (Red Cap)

Preferred if West Coast

• SST II (Gold Cap)

Acceptable

• SST II (Gold Cap)

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

10.0

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

5.0

No of Samples Required

1

Pre-testing Requirements

As part of an ongoing assessment into the clinical utility of offering Mycoplasma pneumoniae IgM serology this assay will cease in its routine availability from 04 March 2024.

Specific requests for IgM serology may only be referred following consultation with our Clinical Microbiology Team.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) is one of the more common pathogens causing pneumonia and is an important causative pathogen of community-acquired pneumonia in neonates, school age children and adolescents however Mycoplasma serology is not considered to have the robustness required to be a reliable diagnostic path in acute disease.

Studies have indicated that M. pneumoniae IgM antibodies are not as sensitive for the diagnosis of M. pneumoniae infection in adults. The use of M. pneumoniae PCR is seen as a more sensitive test in assessing the adult presenting with suspected infection.

Additional Specimen Information

From the 04 March 2024 Canterbury Health Laboratories (CHL) will no longer perform serology for the detection of antibodies to M. pneumoniae as this test is not considered to have the robustness required to be a reliable diagnostic path in acute disease.
In the event of an acute illness due to this pathogen PCR testing is the test of choice.
In rare circumstances when serology may be required, please contact a microbiologist to discuss the case. There may be an option to have the test performed at a reference laboratory in NZ or overseas and we are happy to facilitate this if clinically indicated.

Aliquot Instructions

Sample Type

• Serum

Minimum Volume (ml)

0.5

Transport to Lab

Chilled (2 - 8 degrees Celsius)
If overnight - Chilled (2 - 8 degrees Celsius)

Additional Referral/Aliquot Information

Preferred aliquot serum 5mL

Reference Intervals

Reported as Negative or Equivocal or Positive

Test Method

Mycoplasma IgM EIA

Non-Funded Test Cost

$33.2 (Exclusive of GST)

Billing Code

2419

Onset date of illness desirable.
Studies have indicated that M. pneumoniae IgM antibodies are not as sensitive for the diagnosis of M. pneumoniae infection in adults. The use of M. pneumoniae PCR is seen as a more sensitive test in assessing the adult presenting with suspected infection.
Specific requests for IgM serology outside of the above guideline can be performed following consultation with our Clinical Microbiology Team.
As part of an on going assessment into the clinical utility of offering Mycoplasma pneumoniae IgM serology, we will now be restricting the availability to patients </=15 years.

Contact Information

Enquiry Form