title: FTA card utility for PCR detection of Mycobacterium leprae.
abstract: The suitability of the FTA® elute card for the collection of slit skin smear (SSS) samples for PCR detection of Mycobacterium leprae was evaluated. A total of 192 SSS leprosy samples, of bacillary index (BI) 1 to 5, were collected from patients attending two skin clinics in Myanmar and preserved using both FTA® elute cards and 70% ethanol tubes. To compare the efficacy of PCR detection of DNA from each BI class, PCR was performed to amplify an M. leprae-specific repetitive element. Of the 192 samples, 116 FTA® elute card and 112 70% ethanol samples were PCR positive for M. leprae DNA. When correlated with BI, area under the curve (AUC) values of the respective receiver-operating characteristic curves were similar for the FTA® elute card and ethanol collection methods (AUC=0.6). Taken together, our results indicate that the FTA® elute card, which enables the collection, transport, and archiving of clinical samples, is an attractive alternative to ethanol preservation for the detection of M. leprae DNA.
authors: Immunology Research Division, Department of Medical Research (Lower Myanmar), Yangon, Maynmar.
authors: Khin Saw
authors: KS
authors: Aye
authors: Masanori
authors: M
authors: Matsuoka
authors: Masanori
authors: M
authors: Kai
authors: Kyaw
authors: K
authors: Kyaw
authors: Aye Aye
authors: AA
authors: Win
authors: Mu Mu
authors: MM
authors: Shwe
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Thein
authors: Maung Maung
authors: MM
authors: Htoo
authors: Myo Thet
authors: MT
authors: Htoon