Critical use of nucleic acid amplification techniques to test for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in respiratory tract samples.
The usefulness of employing Belgian selection criteria before performing nucleic acid amplification techniques (NAT) was evaluated. The results of this study show that for smear-negative patients with an abnormal chest radiology result in the absence of a respiratory tract infection by bacterial pathogens, testing with NAT is of major benefit.
Van den Wijngaert
S
S
Department of Microbiology, Sint-Pieter University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium. Sigi_VandenWijngaert@StPierre-bru.be
Dediste
A
A
VanLaethem
Y
Y
Gerard
M
M
Vandenberg
O
O
Zissis
G
G
D001530:Belgium; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D018579:Patient Selection; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000382:microbiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging