Polymerase Chain Reaction in Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Abstract

Objective: Early diagnosis is one of the most importantsteps in the management of tuberculosis, so the con-ventional diagnostic techniques need to be improved.In our study, the diagnostic value of polymerase chainreaction (PCR) in active pulmonary tuberculosis wasinvestigated.Methods: We have examined 79 cases (61 patients and18 healthy subjects) between 20-22 ages. In these casesMycobacterium tuberculosis complex DNA specificIS6110 field has been investigated by PCR and the re-sults were compared with the microbiological culture.Results: The sensitivity of PCR results were found tobe 96.72% and the specificity was 100%. In 59 out of 61cases with pulmonary tuberculosis, culture and PCRpositivity were shown, PCR was negative for 2 of theculture (+) cases. All control cases were negative interms of bacteriological culture, PCR, and sputumsmear for acid fast bacillus (AFB).Conclusion: PCR is a rapid technique with high sensi-tivity and specificity. However, there is always a risk ofcontamination with other specimens and the amplifi-cation products. PCR is believed to be useful and timesaving if we consider the time needed to wait for theresults of microbiological culture, which in turn mightcause delay in starting the treatment in time, especiallyin sputum smear negative cases.Key words: Pulmonary tuberculosis, polymerase chainreaction.