title: The use of the polymerase chain reaction test in the diagnosis of tuberculosis.
abstract: Current techniques for laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis have some serious limitations. These include the high cost and time required for the current assays. The development of a rapid, sensitive, specific and low-cost assay is therefore of considerable importance. We report here the development and laboratory testing of a polymerase chain reaction DNA-based diagnostic test for the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum. The assay shows a high level of sensitivity and specificity and requires considerably less capital, consumables and time inputs than existing laboratory tests. We believe this technology is ready for large-scale evaluation and use, particularly in hospital-based laboratories.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Stellenbosch.
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: du van Helden
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Toit
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jordaan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Taljaard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pitout
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Victor
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis*