In all cases, the probes for common bacterial pathogens picked up the intended target bacteria and did not cross-react with contaminants or other pathogens. The BT-specific probes detected all of the agents they were intended to find and did not cross-react with other BT pathogens, except in the cases of the B. anthracis probe picking up B. cereus and the Y. pestis probe picking up F. philomiragia and Y. pseudotuberculosis. In each of those cases, a confirmatory test is required to distinguish the species from each other, she said.
“This method could be used for spinal fluid or blood or any other sterile fluid or tissue,” Dr. Gaydos said. “This shows a lot of promise for being used in emergency departments.”