his peper reports the use of the polymerase chain reaction to detect the mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA(MPDNA)to diagnose the infection of MP. Samples of nasopharyngeal secrations from 100 children with pneumoiawere colleeted for detection.The results showed that MP DNA was positive in 24 of the 100 cases

of tha 24

13 wereinfants.MP DNA was negative in the control group of 30children. The proceddures of the PCR can be finished within3 hurs. Among 24 positive MP DNA samples

only 17(70.8%)were positive when detected with the cold aggluti-nation test(cAT)(tite>1:32)。It is suggest that MP is the common pathogen which causes children pneumonia

and is not rare to be found in infants.The diagnosis with PCR are more rapid

sensitive and specific compared withCAT

Finally

we also discusses the clinical differences between the older and younger childien potients who sofferfrom mycoplasma pneumonia.