title: Evaluation of PCR with culture for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.
abstract: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem in most developing countries. The present study was carried out among 100 clinically suspected pulmonary TB patients. One hundred sputum specimens were collected one from each of the suspects attending DOT'S corner of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.  The aim of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based method detecting IS6110 sequence present in all Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains using sputum samples in comparison to culture on Lowenstein-Jensen mediums. The PCR was done using primers mtb1 & mtb2 which commonly target an insertion sequence of the organism (IS6110). Out of 100 samples, 18 (18%) showed PCR positive, whereas culture in Lowenstein-Jensen media were positive in 19(19%). In PCR 1 was false negative but none was false positive. In present study, sensitivity and specificity of PCR found 94.74% and 100% respectively. Analyzing the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that the PCR technique is a rapid and alternative method of culture on Lowenstein-Jensen medium for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. In the present study, only presence or absence of M. tuberculosis was determined.
authors: Sherpur Sadar General Hospital, Sherpur, Bangladesh.
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: Hasan
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Hossain
authors: S K
authors: SK
authors: Paul
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Mahmud
authors: E R
authors: ER
authors: Khan
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: Rahman
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Rukunuzzaman
authors: M S
authors: MS
authors: Hasan
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Kubayashi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis*