A new polymerase chain reaction tool for the early diagnosis of paediatric tuberculosis is fast and accurate, say clinicians. Researchers, from multiple centres in the United States and Peru, analysed 392 specimens from 222 children in order to evaluate the novel heminested 1S6110 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay as a diagnostic tool.
The specimens included gastric and nasopharyngeal aspirates, and sputum samples. The PCR results were compared with three culture methods, acid fast bacillus (AFB) staining and clinical assessment by Stegen-Toledo score.
The sensitivity of PCR at 67% compared well with the 3- culture method sensitivity of 71%. This was also considerably higher than the Lowenstein-Jensen culture (54%) or AFB stain (42%) for children with high probable tuberculosis.
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