Document Detail


Molecular diagnosis of tuberculosis.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  8590569     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Rapid and sensitive tools for the diagnosis of tuberculosis are needed, due to the increased incidence of tuberculosis epidemics and the length of time required by classical diagnostic tests, especially among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. In this context, the recent advances in cloning and characterization of M. tuberculosis genes has allowed the application of basic molecular biology techniques to the examination of clinical samples, such as sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), for the molecular diagnosis of tuberculous infection. By using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the amplification of mycobacterial nucleic acids and nonradiometric revelation techniques, the time required for the identification of mycobacteria has been considerably shortened (24-48 h), in comparison to the time required by microbiological tests. When PCR technique is performed by experienced laboratory personnel using controlled protocols, false-negative (caused primarily by endogenous polymerase inhibitors) and false-positive results (due to contamination) can generally be avoided, achieving sensitivity and specificity close to 100%. In the clinical practice, the use of molecular testing for the diagnosis of tuberculosis, in combination with "classic" diagnostic tools, can greatly enhance the diagnostic ability of pulmonary clinicians, particularly in paucibacillary infections and in patients with atypical presentation, such as immunodeficient individuals.
Authors:
L Richeldi; S Barnini; C Saltini
Related Documents :
6275709 - A quantitative ultrastructural study of peripheral blood lymphocytes containing paralle...
16672399 - Multilaboratory comparison of hepatitis c virus viral load assays.
15189269 - Hepatocyte proliferation in chronic hepatitis c: correlation with degree of liver disea...
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The European respiratory journal. Supplement     Volume:  20     ISSN:  0904-1850     ISO Abbreviation:  Eur Respir J Suppl     Publication Date:  1995 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1996-04-01     Completed Date:  1996-04-01     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8910681     Medline TA:  Eur Respir J Suppl     Country:  DENMARK    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  689s-700s     Citation Subset:  IM; X    
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Oncologiche e Radiologiche, Università di Modena, Italy.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / diagnosis*,  microbiology
Humans
Mycobacteria, Atypical / genetics*
Mycobacterium tuberculosis / genetics*
Polymerase Chain Reaction*
Predictive Value of Tests
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis*,  microbiology

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Serological diagnosis of tuberculosis.
Next Document:  Drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.