title: Real-time PCR and Amplified MTD® for rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in pulmonary specimens.
abstract: METHODS
  Patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the 'Care TB®' real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay in comparison with the Amplified  MTD® Test (AMTD) for the rapid diagnosis of TB.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-expectorated sputum was collected for direct smear microscopy, culture, real-time PCR and AMTD assay. Performance of the 'Care TB' real-time PCR and AMTD assay were compared using a combination of culture  and clinical diagnosis as a reference standard.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 178 sputum specimens, 83 were culture-positive; of these, 74 were Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and 9 strains were non-tuberculous mycobacteria. The overall sensitivities and specificities were respectively 91.6%  and 100% for real-time PCR, and 95.2% and 97.9% for AMTD. In the smear-positive specimens, the sensitivities and specificities were respectively 97% and 100% for real-time PCR, and 98.5% and 100% for AMTD. In the smear-negative specimens, the sensitivities and specificities were 70.6% and  100% for real-time PCR, and 82.4% and 97.7% for AMTD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both real-time PCR and AMTD are rapid and specific tests for detecting M. tuberculosis complex; however, 'Care TB' real-time PCR is more convenient and economical.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial