title: Utility of reverse transcriptase PCR and DNA-PCR in the diagnosis of female genital tuberculosis.
abstract: This study was designed to test the utility of mRNA-based RT-PCR to detect viable bacilli, indicating active tubercular involvement, and DNA-PCR to detect present or past infection in the diagnosis of active female genital tuberculosis (TB) infection. A total of 200 subjects with complaints of infertility were enrolled in the study. Multiple sampling was done. One hundred and forty-three endometrial aspirate (EA), 94 peritoneal fluid/peritoneal washing (PF/PW) and six cornual biopsy (CB) specimens were collected for diagnosis using microscopy, culture, RT-PCR and DNA-PCR and results were compared with laparoscopic findings. RT-PCR and culture were concordant [positive in four (2.8%) EA specimens] signalling sampling from the site of active infection. Smear microscopy showed a poor detection rate while DNA-PCR showed high positivity. Sixty-one (44.85%) EA specimens, nine (9.57%) PF/PW specimens and two (33.33%) CB specimens were positive by DNA-PCR. Genital TB causing infertility (localized or secondary to TB elsewhere) can be picked up early by DNA-PCR, when it can be completely cured prior to the appearance of florid disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: Tanu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rana
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: Urvashi B
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: Vidushi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kulshrestha
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaushik
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: Chhavi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Porwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: Nutan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: Alka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kriplani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004717:Endometrium / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D050296:Microbial Viability; D008853:Microscopy; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D014384:Tuberculosis, Female Genital / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012329:RNA, Bacterial