Clinical significance of a polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

American Journal of Clinical Pathology
Y J ChoiA Mahmood

Abstract

Various investigators have reported rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in clinical samples by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To improve the specificity and efficiency of PCR, the authors adopted a variety of conditions, then analyzed sputum specimens from 217 patients clinically suspected of having MTB. Sputum samples were sonicated to obtain MTB DNA. The DNA was subjected to PCR using primer sets from the region of 650-900 in MTB. The PCR product was detected by direct gel electrophoresis and Southern blot hybridization using digoxigenin-labeled MTB-specific probe. The results of smears, cultures, and PCR were concordant in 93% (202) of the 217 specimens and discordant in 7% (15). Fifteen of the discordant specimens, all from patients who had received antituberculosis medications for days to months, were PCR positive. Of these, 11 were culture negative and 3 were smear negative. Only one specimen was false negative on PCR. Our results indicate that PCR is the method of choice when clinical suspicion is high, but smears or cultures are negative. When smears are positive, PCR permits rapid distinction between MTB and other mycobacterial infections. Because PCR can detect nonviable MTB DNA, positive PCR should ...Continue Reading

Citations

Jun 14, 2015·European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases : Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology·J H K ChenW-C Yam
Oct 14, 1998·American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·N V SalianJ H Bates
Jan 1, 2007·Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences : PJBS·B FatolahzadehR Radmanesh-Ahsani
Mar 26, 2011·Clinical & Developmental Immunology·Lixia ZhouDilan Qin
Dec 17, 1997·Journal of Clinical Microbiology·J P CegielskiL B Reller

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Antitubercular Agents (ASM)

Antitubercular agents are pharmacologic agents for treatment of tuberculosis. Discover the latest research on antitubercular agents here.

Antitubercular Agents

Antitubercular agents are pharmacologic agents for treatment of tuberculosis. Discover the latest research on antitubercular agents here.