title: PCR-reverse blot hybridization assay for fast and accurate identification of causative species in superficial fungal infections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Superficial fungal infections are a very common problem in dermatological clinics. The diagnostic method of fungal culture is time-consuming and has inconsistent sensitivity. Therefore, a practical method for rapid and accurate identification of the species causing superficial fungal infections is needed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare PCR-reverse blot hybridization assay (PCR-REBA) with conventional fungal diagnostic methods so as to determine the reliability of PCR-REBA for the diagnosis and species identification in superficial fungal infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparation, fungal culture, conventional real-time PCR and PCR-REBA were used to assess 83 specimens, and the results from each method were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 83 specimens, 44 specimens that were positive by fungal culture had 62.7% agreement with PCR-REBA. Compared with real-time PCR, there was 68.7% agreement with fungal culture, but 91.6% agreement with PCR-REBA. When the comparison was made using the 55 specimens that gave positive results in both KOH preparation and fungal culture, there was 85.5% agreement with real-time PCR for fungal culture, but 94.5% agreement with PCR-REBA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with KOH preparation or fungal culture, PCR-REBA has higher sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, PCR-REBA could be a useful method in clinical settings because it can identify species quickly and accurately, and can also determine the existence of pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: M&D, Inc., Wonju Eco Environmental Technology Center, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Pusan, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005658:Fungi; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity