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Test Code KKBRP Kingella kingae, Molecular Detection, PCR, Blood

Secondary ID

65202

Useful For

Aiding in the diagnosis of Kingella kingae infection using whole blood specimens

Method Name

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Reporting Name

Kingella kingae PCR, B

Specimen Type

Whole Blood EDTA


Specimen Required


The high sensitivity of amplification by polymerase chain reaction requires the specimen to be processed in an environment in which contamination of the specimen by Kingella kingae DNA is unlikely.

 

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Lavender top (EDTA)

Acceptable: Royal blue top (EDTA), pink top (EDTA), or sterile vial containing EDTA-derived aliquot

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions: Send specimen in original tube (preferred).


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Whole Blood EDTA Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days
  Frozen  7 days

Reject Due To

All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.

Clinical Information

Kingella kingae is a fastidious short gram-negative bacillus that may colonize the oropharynx of young children. Colonization may occasionally lead to invasive disease via hematogenous dissemination, primarily in children younger than 4 years of age. This most commonly results in bone and joint infection; K kingae is the most frequent cause of osteomyelitis and septic arthritis in children aged 6 to 36 months. K kingae may also cause endocarditis, involving both native and prosthetic valves, in patients of any age and is considered part of the HACEK (Haemophilus species, Aggregatibacter species, Cardiobacterium hominis, Eikenella corrodens, and Kingella species) group of organisms, known for causing culture-negative endocarditis. K kingae produces a repeat-in-toxin (RTX) toxin.

 

Diagnosis of K kingae infection may be challenging due to the fastidious nature of the organism in culture. Evaluation of blood by polymerase chain reaction is a useful tool for the diagnosis of some cases of K kingae infection.

Reference Values

Not applicable

Interpretation

A positive result indicates the presence of Kingella kingae DNA.

 

A negative result indicates the absence of detectable K kingae DNA, but it does not negate the presence of the organism and may occur due to inhibition of polymerase chain reaction, sequence variability underlying primers or probes, or the presence of K kingae DNA in quantities less than the limit of detection of the assay.

Method Description

Nucleic acid is extracted from the specimen using the automated MagNA Pure instrument. Target specific primers are used to amplify the rxtB gene region of Kingella kingae; amplification is monitored by detecting fluorescence produced by target specific fluorescence resonance energy transfer hybridization probes. This real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) takes place on a LightCycler instrument. Detection of the K kingae target is performed through melting curve analysis using the LightCycler software.(Cockerill FR, Uhl JR: Applications and challenges of real-time PCR for the clinical microbiology laboratory. In: Reischl U, Wittwer C, Cockerill F, eds. Rapid Cycle Real-Time PCR Methods and Applications. Springer-Verlag, 2002:3-27; Zbinden R: Aggregatibacter, Capnocytophaga, Eikenella, Kingella, Pasteurella, and other fastidious or rarely encountered gram-negative rods. In: Carroll KC, Pfaller M, eds. Manual of Clinical Microbiology. 12th ed. ASM Press; 2019:656-669)

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information

87798

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
KKBRP Kingella kingae PCR, B 65809-6

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
48451 Specimen Source 31208-2
48338 Kingella kingae PCR, B 65809-6