title: Quantitative real-time PCR (q-PCR) for sputum smear diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis among people with HIV/AIDS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) for the sputum smear diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in patients living with HIV/AIDS with a clinical suspicion of PTB.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a prospective study to assess the accuracy of a diagnostic test, conducted on 140 sputum specimens from 140 patients living with HIV/AIDS with a clinical suspicion of PTB, attended at two referral hospitals for people living with HIV/AIDS in the city of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. A Löwenstein-Jensen medium culture and 7H9 broth were used as gold standard.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 140 sputum samples, 47 (33.6%) were positive with the gold standard. q-PCR was positive in 42 (30%) of the 140 patients. Only one (0.71%) did not correspond to the culture. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the q-PCR were 87.2%, 98.9% and 95% respectively. In 39 (93%) of the 42 q-PCR positive cases, the CT (threshold cycle) was equal to or less than 37.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  q-PCR performed on sputum smears from patients living with HIV/AIDS demonstrated satisfactory sensitivity, specificity and accuracy, and may therefore be recommended as a method for diagnosing PTB.
authors.affiliation: Tropical Medicine Post-graduation, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, RecifePE, Brazil, Tropical Medicine Post-graduation, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife-PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Yvana Maria Maia de
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
authors.affiliation: Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde, RecifePE, Brazil, Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde, Recife-PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Luiza Magalhães de Andrade
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Laboratório Marcelo Magalhães, RecifePE, Brazil, Laboratório Marcelo Magalhães, Recife-PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Kelly
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Lins
authors.affiliation: Laboratório Marcelo Magalhães, RecifePE, Brazil, Laboratório Marcelo Magalhães, Recife-PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magalhães
authors.affiliation: Tropical Medicine Post-graduation, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, RecifePE, Brazil, Tropical Medicine Post-graduation, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife-PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Magalhães
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial