title: [Rapidity versus reliability: a critical analysis of the rapid diagnosis of mycobacterial infections with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)].
abstract: In this contribution we analyzed the reliability and the diagnostic value of the results obtained by direct amplification of mycobacterial DNA from patient specimens. Presently, the PCR-method is not as sensitive as recommended culture techniques. In cases of low concentration of mycobacteria in specimens (microscopic negative!) false-negative PCR-results are not rare.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie, Universität Würzburg.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tintelnot
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kirchner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Böttger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heesemann
mesh_terms: D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial
vernacular_title: Schnelligkeit versus Zuverlässigkeit: eine kritische Analyse der Schnell-diagnostik von Mykobakteriosen mittels Polymerase-Ketten-Reaktion (PCR).