title: Enzymatic DNA amplification (PCR) in the diagnosis of extrapulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
abstract: A polymerase chain reaction able to amplify Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA from clinical samples of extra-pulmonary origin is described. The PCR amplified a 294 base pair DNA fragment spanning positions 5'-782 to 3'-1075 of the 65 kDa M. tuberculosis antigen gene. The procedure enables amplification of target DNA at quantities as low as 1 pg of purified material and less than 1000 mycobacteria present in clinical samples. The reaction amplifies M. tuberculosis DNA as well as Mycobacterium bovis BCG DNA. In 34 extra-pulmonary clinical samples studied, 18 rendered positive results and two false-negative results; compared to classical diagnostic procedures, the sensitivity was 90% and specificity 100%. The PCR approach to diagnosis of tuberculosis of extra-pulmonary origin is a valid diagnostic alternative to classical procedures.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Chile, Santiago.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaltwasser
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Salinas
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Montiel
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000235:genetics; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013045:Species Specificity; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial