A comparative evaluation of dot immunobinding assay (Dot-Iba) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the laboratory diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis.
The results of a Dot immunobinding assay (Dot Iba) for the detection of mycobacterial antigen in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 45 patients with tuberculous meningitis (TBM) were compared with the results of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In eight patients with culture proven TBM, Dot-Iba gave positive results, while PCR yielded positive results only in six patients. The overall sensitivities of Dot-Iba and PCR in 37 patients with culture negative (probable) TBM were 75.67% and 40.5% respectively. Dot-Iba, in contrast to PCR is a rapid and relatively easier method. More importantly, Dot-Iba is suitable for the routine application for the laboratory diagnosis of TBM and therefore best suited to laboratories in the developing world.
Sumi
M G
MG
Department of Pathology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala State, India.
Mathai
A
A
Reuben
S
S
Sarada
C
C
Radhakrishnan
V V
VV
Indulakshmi
R
R
Sathish
M
M
Ajaykumar
R
R
Manju
Y K
YK
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods; D007753:Laboratories; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial