title: Current advances in diagnostic methods of Acanthamoeba keratitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this article was to review the current advances in diagnostic methods for Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data used in this review were retrieved from PubMed (1970-2013). The terms "Acanthamoeba keratitis" and "diagnosis" were used for the literature search.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from published articles regarding AK and diagnosis in clinical trials were identified and reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The diagnostic methods for the eight species implicated in AK were reviewed. Among all diagnostic procedures, corneal scraping and smear examination was an essential diagnostic method. Polymerase chain reaction was the most sensitive and accurate detection method. Culturing of Acanthamoeba was a reliable method for final diagnosis of AK. Confocal microscopy to detect Acanthamoeba was also effective, without any invasive procedure, and was helpful in the early diagnosis of AK.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinically, conjunction of various diagnostic methods to diagnose AK was necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogenic Biology, Jilin Medical College, Jilin, Jilin 132013, China. Email: yuehua26@163.com.
authors.forename: Yuehua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogenic Biology, Jilin Medical College, Jilin, Jilin 132013, China.
authors.forename: Xianmin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Jilin People Hospital, Jilin, Jilin 132013, China.
authors.forename: Linzhe
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D015823:Acanthamoeba Keratitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology