Molecular diagnosis of tuberculosis. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Molecular diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Eur Respir J Suppl. 1995 Sep;20:689s-700s. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/96163837
Richeldi L; Barnini S; Saltini C; Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Oncologiche e Radiologiche,; Universita di Modena, Italy.

Abstract: 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.
Keywords: AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/*DIAGNOSIS/MICROBIOLOGY Human Mycobacterium tuberculosis/*GENETICS Mycobacterium, Atypical/*GENETICS *Polymerase Chain Reaction Predictive Value of Tests Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/*DIAGNOSIS/MICROBIOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW REVIEW, TUTORIAL

KWDaids-relatedopportunisticinfections/KWDdiagnosis/microbiologyhumanmycobacteriumtuberculosis/KWDgeneticsmycobacterium,atypical/KWDgeneticsKWDpolymerasechainreactionpredictivevalueoftestssupport,non-uKWDsKWDgov'ttuberculosis,pulmonary/KWDdiagnosis/microbiologyjournalarticlereviewreview,tutorial
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Copyright © 1996 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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