title: Does multiplex polymerase chain reaction increase the diagnostic percentage in osteoarticular tuberculosis? A prospective evaluation of 80 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (MPCR) is a technique in which two or more gene targets are amplified in a single reaction. This has increased sensitivity of diagnosis as a single gene target may be absent in some Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains.
  
  
  METHODS
  MPCR using two target genes specific for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, that is, IS6110 and MPB 64, ZN staining and Mycobacterial culture were performed on synovial fluid/pus samples of 80 (three confirmed, 77 suspected) patients of osteoarticular tuberculosis and 25 non tuberculosis patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MPCR had a sensitivity of 100% in confirmed cases and 81.8% in clinically suspected cases. AFB was positive in one patient and Mycobacterial culture was positive in three patients. MPCR also had 100% specificity; MPB64 was positive in five patients in which IS6110 was negative whereas IS6110 was positive in two patients in which MPB64 was negative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MPCR is a sensitive and specific method for diagnosis of paucibacilliary conditions such as osteoarticular tuberculosis.
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. sharmakusum9@yahoo.co.in
authors: Kusum
authors: K
authors: Sharma
authors: Aman
authors: A
authors: Sharma
authors: Shiv Kumar
authors: SK
authors: Sharma
authors: Ramesh Kumar
authors: RK
authors: Sen
authors: Mandeep Singh
authors: MS
authors: Dhillon
authors: Meera
authors: M
authors: Sharma
mesh_terms: D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014394:Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial