Mycolic acid analysis by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) has been used for more than 20 years by clinical laboratories worldwide to aid in the diagnosis of tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections. The technology is much less expensive than DNA techniques, requires considerably less labor and time than conventional biochemical techniques and is not subject to erroneous identification
of Mycobacterium celatum as M. tuberculosis, as may happen with DNA probes.

The Sherlock® Mycobacteria Identification System (MYCO-LCS) was launched in 2003 and represents the only commercially-available mycobacterial identification system that analyzes mycolic acids by HPLC.  The Sherlock MYCO-LCS represents a rapid, accurate and comprehensive solution for the identification of over 60 mycobacteria and related species in the following genera: Corynebacteria, Dietzia, Gordonia, Nocardia, Rhodococcus and Tsukamurella.

Comparison of the Sherlock MYCO-LCS with "Manual" UV-HPLC Methods

Laboratories that still use the "manual" UV-HPLC protocol originally developed by the U.S. CDC will benefit from the Sherlock MYCO-LCS's greater automation, sensitivity and speed compared to this UV-HPLC method.  The MYCO-LCS is more than 200 times as sensitive as the UV-HPLC method because of the use of fluorescence detection. 
This level of sensitivity has enabled users of the Sherlock MYCO-LCS to identify mycobacteria and related species from an extremely small cell mass, allowing more rapid identification than the UV-HPLC method.  One other advantage of the MYCO-LCS is the use of more environmentally friendly isopropanol and methanol compared to the methylene chloride (not environmentally friendly) used in the UV-HPLC method.

The Sherlock MYCO-LCS was created by microbiologists for use by microbiologists,
so no HPLC experience is necessary.

What makes the Sherlock MYCO-LCS unique is that all mycobacteria and
related species are analyzed using the same procedure, with no offline tests,
Gram stains or biochemical cards required.

Key Features of the Sherlock MYCO-LCS include:

• Rapid identification in less than 2 hours
• Less than $6 USD per test in consumables
• Separates M. bovis BCG from the MTB complex
• Automated analysis and naming
• Proven reliability and warranty
• Results can be combined with DNA Sequencing Results

Contact MIDI for further information on the Sherlock MYCO-LCS.

For research use only. Not for diagnostic use.