Modification of the fungi-fluor and the genetic systems fluorescent antibody methods for detection of Pneumocystis carinii in bronchoalveolar lavage specimens.
Four hundred forty-five bronchoalveolar lavage specimens from patients with the human immunodeficiency virus were preserved in Saccomano's fixative and stained for Pneumocystis carinii cysts by a modified method with Fungi-Fluor Solution A (Polysciences, Warrington, Pa) and the Genetic Systems Pneumocystis carinii Immunofluorescence Antibody (Genetic Systems Corp, Seattle, Wash). The majority of patients had been treated for suspected P carinii pneumonia for a few days prior to collection of bronchoalveolar lavage specimens. P carinii cysts were detected in 194 (43.6%) specimens. Both stains identified P carinii in 166 (37.3%) specimens and were negative in 251 (56.4%), yielding a concordance rate of 93.7%. P carinii cysts were detected in 25 (5.6%) specimens by the Genetic Systems stain only, and in 3 (0.7%) specimens by the Fungi-Fluor stain only. The sensitivity for detecting cysts of P carinii was significantly greater with the Genetic Systems stain (P < .01).
Stager
C E
CE
Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex.
Fraire
A E
AE
Kim
H S
HS
Estrada
R
R
Davis
J R
JR
Greenberg
D
D
Guy
E S
ES
Guntupalli
K K
KK
McBride
R A
RA
D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D011010:Pneumocystis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000379:methods