OBJECTIVES: To compare the BD GeneOhm Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus 
aureus (MRSA) Achromopeptidase (ACP) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with 
the culture method for the detection of MRSA colonization.
METHODS: One hundred and two patients were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit 
in King Khalid Hospital, Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from July 2010 to 
February 2011. Separate swabs from the nose, axilla, and groin of each patient 
were processed by the culture method (sheep blood agar plate and mannitol salt 
agar plate) and BD GeneOhm MRSA ACP assay.
RESULTS: Of the 287 samples, 62 (21.6%) were MRSA positive by the PCR assay and 
26 (9%) were MRSA positive by the culture method. The PCR method showed 88.4% 
sensitivity and 98.6% negative predictive value. The number of MRSA-PCR positive 
groin specimens was nearly the same as nasal specimens. The PCR method gave 
positive results in 22.5% of patients by nasal specimens, 27.5% of patients by 
nasal and groin specimens, and 30.4% of patients by nasal, groin, and axilla 
specimens. The PCR method detected 30.4% of patients as MRSA positive while the 
culture method detected 19.6% of patients as positive for MRSA.
CONCLUSION: The BD GeneOhm MRSA ACP assay has high sensitivity and NPV and hence 
is a useful screening method to exclude patients who are not colonized with 
MRSA.