DNA sequences from these candidate loci for all 158 strains (for the Ac assay) and for the 65 A. xylosoxidans strains (for the Ax assay) were extensively assessed for specificity using microbial nucleotide discontiguous megablast (http://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/). Candidate oligo performance was assessed in silico using NetPrimer (NetPrimer/">http://www.premierbiosoft.com/NetPrimer/) and Beacon Designer (http://www.premierbiosoft.com/qOligo/Oligo.jsp/) using parameters described elsewhere [39 (link)]. The following primers and Black Hole Quencher (BHQ) probes were designed for specific Achromobacter spp. and A. xylosoxidans detection, respectively (5′ to 3′): Ac_F (CACrTAGCTCACGAACTCCAAGC), Ac_R (CAGCTTCAATCCTACCTAACTTTCCT) and Ac_probe (HEX-CGTAGCCGACGGTTTGCAGG-BHQ1), which generates a 144 bp amplicon; and Ax_F (AGCGTCACGGAATGCAGC), Ax_R (AAGGGCGTTTCAACGAGAGC) and Ax_probe (FAM-AGGTCATAGGCGTAGACCAGC-BHQ1), which generates a 127 bp amplicon.