A single step method for rapid isolation and identification of Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

A simple monophasic-diphasic culture set-up was developed to provide efficient isolation and identification of Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The set-up consisted of a slant medium, the bottom covered with 1 mL of broth, establishing a diphasic solid-liquid environment at the bottom of the test tube surmounted by a monophasic solid one. The specimen was directly inoculated into the liquid phase, mixed, and tilted once or twice to cover the upper slanted portion prior to incubation. The method had several advantages over other techniques including rapid results, elimination of transport medium, and use of two separate environments to accomplish both the detection and identification of M. pneumoniae.