Multicenter Performance Evaluation of the Simplexa Bordetella Direct Kit in Nasopharyngeal Swab Specimens

Abstract

Detection of Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis using molecular methods is sensitive and specific with a short turnaround time compared to other diagnostic methods. In this multicenter study, we compared the performance of the Simplexa Bordetella Direct kit to those of other molecular assays in detecting and differentiating B. pertussis and B. parapertussis in nasopharyngeal swab specimens. The limits of detection (LODs) were 150 CFU/ml or 3 fg/μl of DNA for B. pertussis and 1,500 CFU/ml or 10 fg/μl of DNA for B. parapertussis .