Journal List > Tuberc Respir Dis > v.69(4) > 1001540

Yun, Cho, Go, Baek, Kim, Ma, Lee, Cho, Jeong, Kim, Lee, Kim, and Hwang: Usefulness of Real-time PCR to Detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Nontuberculous Mycobacteria

Abstract

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate recently developed real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay kit to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in respiratory specimens.

Methods

We assessed the positive rate of the real-time PCR assay to detect MTB and NTM in 87 culture-positive specimens (37 sputum, 50 bronchial washing), which were performed real-time PCR by using Real-Q MTB&NTM Kit from January 2009 to June 2009, at Gyeongsang University Hospital. To compare the efficacy with the TB-PCR assay, we evaluated 63 culture-positive specimens (19 sputum, 44 bronchial washing) for MTB or NTM, which were performed TB-PCR by using ABSOLUTE MTB II PCR Kit from March 2008 to August 2008.

Results

Among 87 specimens tested using real-time PCR, MTB and NTM were cultured in 58 and 29, respectively. The positive rate of real-time PCR assay to detect MTB was 71% (22/31) and 92.6% (25/27) in AFB stain-negative and stain-positive specimens. For NTM, the positive rate of real-time PCR was 11.1% (2/18) and 72.7% (8/11) in AFB stain-negative and stain-positive specimens. Among 63 specimens performed using TB-PCR, MTB and NTM were cultured in 46 and 17, respectively. The positive rate of TB-PCR was 61.7% (21/34) and 100% (12/12) in AFB stain-negative and stain-positive specimens. TB-PCR was negative in all NTM-cultured 17 specimens.

Conclusion

TB/NTM real-time PCR assay is useful to differentiate MTB and NTM in AFB stain-positive respiratory specimens and it is as effective in detecting MTB with TB-PCR.

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Detection rate of MTB and NTM in TB/NTM real-time PCR
trd-69-250-i001

MTB: Mycobacterium tuberculosis; NTM: nontuberculous mycobacterium; AFB: acid fast bacilli; PCR: polymerase chain reaction.

Table 2
Results of cases of cultured NTM
trd-69-250-i002

NTM: nontuberculous mycobacterium; AFB: acid fast bacilli; PCR: polymerase chain reaction.

Table 3
Detection rate of MTB and NTM in TB-PCR
trd-69-250-i003

MTB: Mycobacterium tuberculosis; NTM: nontuberculous mycobacterium; AFB: acid fast stain; PCR: polymerase chain reaction.

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