title: Evaluation of a novel PCR-based diagnostic assay for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum samples.
abstract: We report on a PCR-based assay we have developed for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum samples. One hundred sputum specimens, which included 34 culture-positive and 66 culture-negative specimens, were evaluated with this system. Of the 34 culture-positive specimens, 31 were PCR positive, and 60 of the culture-negative specimens were PCR negative. An internal standard has been included in the assay system to monitor PCR inhibition and to confirm the reliability of the PCR assay.
authors.affiliation: BioResearch Ireland, National Diagnostics Centre, University College Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glennon
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinazzo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Turchetti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marcolini
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Dawson
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology