title: Polymerase chain reaction for chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infection yields higher sensitivity in blood clot than buffy coat or whole blood specimens.
abstract: Trypanosoma cruzi polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is widely used, but sensitivity varies widely. We compared PCR using 121/122 primers targeting kinetoplast minicircle DNA in whole blood, buffy coat, and clot from Bolivian women. Sensitivity was significantly higher in clot (60.1%) than buffy coat (46.5%) or whole blood (40%). The use of clot could simplify specimen collection while improving sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fitzwater
authors.forename: Maritza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calderon
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lafuente
authors.forename: Gerson
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galdos-Cardenas
authors.forename: Lisbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrufino
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verastegui
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gilman
authors.forename: Caryn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bern
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017931:DNA Primers; D018105:DNA, Kinetoplast / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013927:Thrombosis
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D018105:DNA, Kinetoplast