Journal List > Tuberc Respir Dis > v.68(6) > 1001506

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Kim, Kim, Chi, Ban, Oh, Kwon, Kim, Kim, Lim, and Kim: Significance of Repeated Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Testing for Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Original Article
Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2010; 68(6): 345-349.

Published online: 30 June 2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2010.68.6.345

Significance of Repeated Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Testing for Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Soo-Ok Kim, M.D.1, Yoon-Hee Kim, M.D.2, Su-Young Chi, M.D.2, Hee-Jung Ban, M.D.2, In-Jae Oh, M.D.2, Yong-Soo Kwon, M.D.2, Kyu-Sik Kim, M.D.2, Yu-Il Kim, M.D.2, Sung-Chul Lim, M.D.2, Young-Chul Kim, M.D.2

1Department of Internal Medicine, Seonam University Medical School, Namwon, Korea.

2Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.

Address for correspondence: In-Jae Oh, M.D. Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, 8, Hak-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju 501-757, Korea. Phone: 82-61-379-7617, Fax: 82-61-379-7619, droij@chonnam.ac.kr

Received 3 May 2010       Accepted 7 June 2010

Copyright © 2010. The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases. All rights reserved.

Abstract

Background

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is important for the confirmatory diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to analyze the yield of repeated PCR testing in patients with confirmed pulmonary TB.

Methods

The medical records of 130 patients, who had more than two consecutive PCR tests and a M. tuberculosis-positive sputum culture from August, 2006 to December, 2007, were retrospectively reviewed for the purposes of this study. A positive TB-PCR test was defined as at least one positive test result.

Results

The cumulative positive PCR test rate was 80% (104/130), with gradually increasing rates of positive findings upon the first, second and third TB-PCR tests with 52.3%, 68.5% and 75.4%, respectively. However, further testing did not increase the positive rate further.

Conclusion

Repeated PCR testing at least three times for M. tuberculosis is helpful for diagnosis of pulmonary TB.

Keywords: Polymerase Chain Reaction, Tuberculosis, Sputum

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
Statistical analysis by binomial test. Trends of cumulative positive rate by number of tuberculosis-polymerase chain reaction (TB-PCR) trials. Difference with cumulative positive rate by trial times were verified by the binomial test. The difference in the rates between the first and second trials was significant (p<0.001), the difference between the second and third trials was borderline significant (p=0.055), whereas the difference between the third and fourth trials was statistically insignificant.
trd-68-345-g001
Table 1
Cumulative positive rate of repeated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing
trd-68-345-i001
Table 2
Cross table of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results by AFB stain results
trd-68-345-i002

Values are presented as number (%).

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