Abstract
A novel rapid internally-controlled duplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis that uses a new intercalating dye, LCGreen, for amplicon detection was designed and evaluated using clinical specimens and the 2009 Quality Control for Molecular Diagnostics (QCMD) molecular proficiency testing panel. The sensitivity and specificity of the new PCR assay were equal to that of reference standard uniplex probe-based assays. The assay can be performed in 1 h including DNA extraction. The new assay thus offers a simple and rapid alternative for the detection of B. pertussis and B. parapertussis.
Declaration of interest: No funding was received for this study. There are no commercial relationships or potential conflicts of interest related to the submission.