GeneXpert Testing: Applications for Clinical Microbiology, Part II

The impact of rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology on infectious-disease testing is continuing to evolve outside the realm of a centralized laboratory. The GeneXpert Dx system is the first unit dose, near-point-of-care, molecular device commercially available. Part I of this two-part article addressed the use of the GeneXpert system for the detection of group B Streptococcus, enterovirus, and methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus in various clinical specimens. Part II of this article will review the advantages and disadvantages of conventional culture methods and alternative molecular technologies along with the GeneXpert system, for the detection of these microorganisms in clinical specimens.