Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is a major respiratory pathogen in preschoolers, but current detection methods are slow and inaccurate.
This study introduces a new testing method using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) combined with nucleic acid lateral flow (NALF) for quick and visual detection of MP.
The new assay shows high sensitivity, specificity, and a 94.3% agreement rate with real-time PCR, with results ready in about 50 minutes, making it suitable for use in outpatient and emergency settings.