Significantly improved performance of a multitarget assay over a commercial SCCmec-based assay for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening: applicability for clinical laboratories.

Detection of the SCCmec gene is a common strategy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) screening assays. However, if SCCmec is used alone, it may not be specific for detecting MRSA. Herein, we describe an in-house MSRA PCR-based screening assay involving detection of three targets (nuc, coa, and mecA).