RAPID DIAGNOSIS OF EXTRAPULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS BY POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION

Abstract

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that causes a serious 1 public health problem because of its increasing incidence and emergence of multidrug resistant strains. Therefore, a correct ' ' diagnosis of tuberculosis and early detection of the organism in clinical specimens is becoming more and more important for the control of tuberculosis, and restriction of disease spread.

The aim of the present work was to compare between 4 techniques for diagnosis of extrapulmonary T.B. They are AFB smear stains, LJ culture as conventional methods as well as BAC TEC and PCR as new rapid, sensitive methods of diagnostic tools. Furtherly to evaluate fully automated AmpliSensor assay in diagnosing extrapulmonary T.B. specimens.

Nine groups of extrapulmonary specimens were selected from 162 patients highly suggestive of extrapulmonary T.B. and those being followed during their course of antituberculous treatment to ensure their sterility. These groups included 36 pleural fluid 29 urine samples, 22 pus samples, 13 ascitic fluid, 12 pericardia! fluid, 12 serum samples, as well as 11 semen samples, 19 lymph nodes aspirates samples, and 8 cerebrospinal fluid samples. The 162 patients examined were 100 males and 62 females with their ages ranging from 10 to 75 years.

All the patients were submitted to full clinical history and examination with special reference to medication types used