title: [Direct detection by ligase chain reaction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in pleural fluid].
abstract: Our purpose was to investigate the utility of the DNA amplification by ligase chain reaction (LCR) for the direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) in pleural fluid specimens from patients suspected for tuberculous pleural effusion. We have used the LCx M. tuberculosis kit (Abbott) which uses the amplification of the gene that encodes for antigen b. We have examined 81 pleural fluid specimens by isolation (on Löwenstein-Jensen medium and MB/BacT system) and by LCR. Out of 10 positive specimens in culture, 4 were also positive by LCR; out of 71 negative specimens in culture, 8 were positive by LCR. We have re-evaluated the LCR results according to the clinical diagnosis, sustained by the successful therapy, and to the pathological diagnosis on the pleural biopsy. The sensitivity and specificity of LCR in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion were 31.5% and 100%. This commercial LCR kit is a rapid, specific, but less sensitive test for the routine diagnosis of the tuberculous pleural effusion.
authors.affiliation: Disciplina de Microbiologie, Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie Gr.T. Popa Iaşi.
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dorneanu
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Boiculese
authors.forename: Henriette
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ries
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Diculencu
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D022521:Ligase Chain Reaction; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014396:Tuberculosis, Pleural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic