Evaluation of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for Detection of Mycoplasma hominis in Vaginal Samples in Comparison with Real Time PCR

Mycoplasma hominis as one of the etiologic agents of non-gonococcal urethritis in women should be identified for early treatment that led to the patient does not suffer from serious complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility. With regard to the importance of M. hominis in genitourinary diseases, is required for the choice of the appropriate, reliable, simple, and repeatable laboratory assay for diagnosis. The focus of this study was to investigate 16srRNA-based LAMP assay for the identification of M. hominis from vaginal swabs in comparison with quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). The eighty vaginal swabs were taken and analyzed by cultures, qPCR, and LAMP assay. Totally, 13 (16.3%), 14 (17.5%), and 25 (31.3%) samples were positive for M. hominis by culture, qPCR, and LAMP assay, respectively. The results indicate a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 83.3%, a negative predictive value (NPV) of 100%, and a Positive predictive value (PPV) of 56% of the developed LAMP assays. According to the result, the LAMP assay is significantly more specific, and sensitive than both qPCR and culture methods for diagnosis of M. hominis.