This test uses Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology for the qualitative detection of DNA from a wide range of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) in samples of sterile body fluids (e.g., pleural effusion, peritoneal fluid, synovial fluid, cerebrospinal fluid). The method typically targets a conserved sequence in the bacterial genome (such as the 16S rRNA gene or ITS), allowing identification of the NTM group without distinguishing between subtypes in the basic qualitative version.