Table 2 Comparison of culture-independent techniques applied for the screening of antibiotic resistance
Detection method | FISH | Immunofluorescence | Nitrocefin assay |
|---|---|---|---|
Target | mRNA | Protein | Enzymatic activity |
Speed (h) | 5 | 7 | <1 |
Costs | Moderate | Moderate/high | Low |
Simultaneous species identification | Possible | Possible | Not possible |
Specificity | Narrow, type-specific (e.g. TEM) | Narrow, type-specific (e.g. TEM) | Broad |
Drawbacks | Transcription is no correlate for efficient expression | Specific antibodies required | Not suitable on the single cell level |