Sensitivity and specificity of a rapid rRNA gene probe assay for simultaneous identification of Staphylococcus aureus and detection of mecA.

rRNA gene sequences were used for identification and target adequacy controls in a DNA probe assay to identify isolates as Staphylococcus and, more specifically, as S. aureus within 1 hour. mecA status was simultaneously determined using a specific DNA probe. The target adequacy control guarded against false-negative mecA results.