title: [Current methods in rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis].
abstract: The field of mycobacteriology has significantly advanced during the past 10 years. Optimized specimen processing, fluorescence microscopy, radiometric mycobacterial detection system, and use of nucleic acid probes for identification provide more rapid and more sensitive detection of tuberculous mycobacteria. Nevertheless, the diagnosis of tuberculosis is often a long and tedious process which can take up to several weeks. Recently, several new and rapid diagnostic tests have been developed. Despite major advances, the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis remains an investigational method requiring further development and prospective evaluation. Detection of tuberculostearic acid in cerebrospinal fluid by use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has proven to be a very rapid, sensitive, and specific test for tuberculous meningitis. The most recent development is the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis directly in clinical specimens. PCR is an extremely sensitive and rapid method based on in vitro amplification of specific DNA sequences. However, before using this method for clinical practice, further efforts to develop simple routine procedures that are safe from cross-contamination are warranted. Furthermore, large-scale trials are needed to determine the clinical value of diagnostic PCR assay for diagnosis of tuberculosis in different patient populations.
authors.affiliation: Bakteriologisches Labor, Kantonsspital Basel.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frei
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D015342:DNA Probes; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013229:Stearic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D013229:Stearic Acids; C026082:tuberculostearic acid