title: Multiplex PCR for rapid diagnosis of gastrointestinal tuberculosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rapid and specific diagnosis of gastrointestinal tuberculosis (GITB) is of utmost importance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate Multiplex PCR (MPCR) using MPB64 and IS6110 primers specific for M. tuberculosis for rapid diagnosis of GITB.
  
  
  METHODS
  MPCR was performed on colonoscopy biopsy specimens on 11 GITB confirmed (culture/AFB/histopathology was positive), 29 GITB suspected and 30 Non GITB (control group) patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MPB64 PCR had sensitivity and specificity of 90% and 100% for confirmed GITB cases. In 29 clinically diagnosed but unconfirmed GITB cases, MPCR was positive in 72.41%. MPCR was negative in all control group patients. The overall sensitivity and specificity of microscopy, culture, histopathology and MPCR was 5%, 2% 20% and 77.5% and 100%, 100%, 100% and 100% respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MPCR has good sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing gastrointestinal tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Kusum
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Saroj Kant
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.forename: Aman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Ritambra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nada
authors.forename: Kaushal K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: Kapil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goyal
authors.forename: Surinder Singh
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Rana
authors.forename: Deepak Kumar
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Bhasin
authors.forename: Meera
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharma
keywords: Gastrointestinal tract; Multiplex PCR; Tuberculosis