Bacterial detection by 16S NGS

Bacterial detection by 16S Next Generation Sequencing is only available as a reflexive test from Bacterial PCR reflex NGS [BCTDNA] when there is evidence of multiple bacterial templates present.

Results in 10 business days after reflex from Bacterial PCR reflex NGS [BCTDNA]

16S rRNA gene sequencing can be used to perform accurate genus- or species-level taxonomic assignment. The 16S gene is sufficiently conserved among bacteria such that we can classify many bacterial species with high specificity and sensitivity. Unfortunately, PCR amplification from polymicrobial specimens is problematic: the presence of multiple templates results in superimposed Sanger reads that are generally uninterpretable. Next-generation sequencing methods provide individual sequence data for millions of DNA molecules, allowing each to be classified independently. This permits bacterial species identification for samples from which usable data cannot be obtained by conventional clinical methods. Libraries of DNA fragments spanning 16S ribosomal RNA gene part of 16S Ribosomal RNA gene are amplified by PCR from bacterial DNA using primers that include adaptor sequences needed for sequencing. Libraries from individual patient samples can be tagged with a unique molecular barcode, allowing multiple samples to be combined in a single run.

Please note that this testing is unable to detect bacteria of the order Chlamydiales (including Chlamydia species and Chlamydia-like organisms). For detection of bacteria from the order Chlamydiales request​ Chlamydiales DNA Detection by PCR [CLMDNA] as appropriate.