UPDATE: Discontinuation of complement fixation testing for Mycoplasma, Chlamydia and Coxiella from February 1st 2011.

Previous correspondence from the NVRL dated Jan 2011 stated that the CFT for Mycoplasma was to be discontinued from February 2011. The letter also stated that the NVRL would move to introduce Mycoplasma specific IgG testing, in addition to retaining the current assay. The Mycoplasma IgM assays used at the NVRL have been approved by the manufacturer as being suitable for investigation of patients below the age of 20 years.

Subsequently, an evaluation was performed at the NVRL into the suitability of the Mycoplasma IgM and IgG enzyme Immunoassays to diagnose primary or re-infection with Mycoplasma in patients older than 20 years. The conclusion of this evaluation was that neither the IgM or IgG assays could reliably and accurately diagnose Mycoplasma infection, using either single or paired samples, in individuals older than 20 years of age. 

Therefore, henceforth only specimens collected from patients under the age of 20 will be tested for Mycoplasma IgM. No mycoplasma investigations will be performed on patients over this age. We are recommending that future samples for patients over 20 from your hospital be sent directly from your laboratory to Colindale for Mycoplasma testing.

• Mycoplasma Reference Unit, Atypical Pneumonia Unit, Respiratory and Systemic Infection Laboratory, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5HT

More information about the Mycoplasma Reference Unit can be found here.

If you have questions regarding this, please do not hesitate to contact staff at the NVRL