title: PCR as a diagnostic tool for extra-pulmonary tuberculosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Extra-Pulmonary Tuberculosis (EPTB) accounts for approximately 40% of the tuberculosis cases. Though it is not communicable, it is a significant cause of morbidity. This study was conducted to know the efficacy of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) as an additional tool, along with the conventional methods, in the diagnosis of EPTB.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical samples were collected from suspected cases of EPTB. The Ziehl-Neelsen staining (ZNS), culture on the Lowenstein-Jensen medium (LJM) and PCR testing with the use of a commercial kit were performed on the homogenized samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 182 samples which were received for the molecular diagnosis of EPTB were also tested by ZNS and culture on LJM for the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Of these, 22 were positive by at least one of the tests which were used. PCR detected the maximum number of cases of EPTB, followed by culture. The results of PCR and the conventional tests were analyzed by using McNemar's test for the correlated proportions-the exact method of 'IBM SPSS Statistics 20'. The analysis showed a statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whenever they are feasible, using all the available tests in combination increases the laboratory detection rates of M. tuberculosis from clinical samples. PCR must be included in the diagnostic panel of EPTB.
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Microbiology, SDM College of Medical Sciences & Hospital , Dharwad-580009, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Ganavalli S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Ajantha
authors.forename: Praveen C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.forename: Raghavendra D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
authors.forename: Umesh
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Biradar
keywords: Extrapulmonary tuberculosis; Mycobacterium; PCR; Tuberculosis
references.citation: BMC Res Notes. 2011 Sep 08;4:332
references.pmid: 21899772
references.citation: MMWR Recomm Rep. 2005 Apr 15;54(RR-6):1-12
references.pmid: 15829862
references.citation: Indian J Med Res. 2004 Oct;120(4):316-53
references.pmid: 15520485
references.citation: Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2005 Jul;52(3):247-54
references.pmid: 15893903
references.citation: J Med Microbiol. 2005 Jan;54(Pt 1):39-44
references.pmid: 15591253
references.citation: J Clin Microbiol. 2005 May;43(5):2471-3
references.pmid: 15872286
references.citation: J Clin Microbiol. 2001 Apr;39(4):1683
references.pmid: 11354035
references.citation: Lancet Infect Dis. 2010 Dec;10(12):886-92
references.pmid: 21050822
references.citation: J Clin Microbiol. 2011 Jul;49(7):2540-5
references.pmid: 21593262
references.citation: J Appl Microbiol. 2009 Aug;107(2):425-35
references.pmid: 19302308
references.citation: Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2010 May;16(3):271-84
references.pmid: 20224410
references.citation: J Infect Dev Ctries. 2012 Jan 12;6(1):46-52
references.pmid: 22240428
references.citation: J Clin Microbiol. 2011 Apr;49(4):1202-5
references.pmid: 21270230
references.citation: Indian J Med Microbiol. 2008 Oct-Dec;26(4):352-5
references.pmid: 18974489
references.citation: Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2000 Apr;4(4):361-70
references.pmid: 10777087
references.citation: Indian J Med Res. 2004 Oct;120(4):418-28
references.pmid: 15520490