title: Comparison of diagnostic accuracy of PCR and BACTEC with Lowenstein-Jensen culture and histopathology in the diagnosis of female genital tuberculosis in three subsets of gynaecological conditions.
abstract: The prevalence of female genital tuberculosis (FGTB) in India has been estimated to be about 19%. Despite an array of diagnostic tests being available, the goal of early diagnosis and treatment remains elusive. The present study was planned to identify better diagnostic tests for early detection of FGTB and also to compare their diagnostic accuracy with the existing standard diagnostic tests in three subsets of gynaecological conditions (infertility, menstrual abnormalities and pelvic inflammatory disease). Total of 90 patients recruited in three groups of 30 each underwent endometrial sampling. The biopsied tissue was sent for histopathological examination, AFB smear examination, culture in Lowenstein-Jensen (L-J) and BACTEC 460 TB culture media and nested PCR testing. BACTEC had a sensitivity of 40% with a specificity of 90% while PCR showed a sensitivity and specificity of 62.5% and 54%, respectively, as compared to conventional methods (L-J culture or histopathology). Addition of PCR to BACTEC improved sensitivity from 40% to 52%. Hence, we conclude that combination of BACTEC and PCR had an improved detection as compared to conventional tests with an advantage of early results.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital/University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS) , New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Radhika
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital/University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS) , New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Sruthi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhaskaran
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital/University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS) , New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Namita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saran
authors.affiliation: b Division of Microbiology , National Centre for Disease Control , New Delhi , India.
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital/University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS) , New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Gita
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Radhakrishnan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D003470:Culture Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D061345:Early Medical Intervention / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D004717:Endometrium / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014384:Tuberculosis, Female Genital / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media
keywords: BACTEC; Genital tuberculosis; PCR; infertility; menstrual abnormalities; pelvic inflammatory disease