Detection of Pneumocystis carinii in respiratory specimens by PCR-solution hybridization enzyme-linked immunoassay.
By using a recently developed PCR-solution hybridization enzyme-linked assay (PCR-SHELA), we investigated Pneumocystis carinii in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples and induced sputa of patients with pneumocystosis. In detecting P. carinii, PCR-SHELA proved more sensitive than immunofluorescence staining or a single PCR and significantly more diagnostically specific than a nested PCR. Our data suggest that PCR-SHELA could be used to detect P. carinii organisms in respiratory samples, particularly in patients with uncertain diagnoses.
Ortona
E
E
Department of Immunology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
Margutti
P
P
Tamburrini
E
E
Mencarini
P
P
Visconti
E
E
Zolfo
M
M
Siracusano
A
A
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D000328:Adult; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011010:Pneumocystis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology