Quantitative real-time PCR (q-PCR) for sputum smear diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis among people with HIV/AIDS

• Published in: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo 2014-03, Vol.56 (2), p.139-142
• Main Authors: Albuquerque, Yvana Maria Maia de, Lima, Ana Luiza Magalhães de Andrade, Lins, Ana Kelly, Magalhães, Marcelo, Magalhães, Vera
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - diagnosis; Diagnosis; DNA, Bacterial - analysis; Female; HIV/AIDS; HIV/AIDS/tuberculosis co-infection; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - genetics; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - isolation & purification; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies; Real time PCR; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sputum - microbiology; TROPICAL MEDICINE; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - diagnosis; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0036-4665; 1678-9946; 1678-9946; 0036-4665
• DOI: 10.1590/S0036-46652014000200009

To assess quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) for the sputum smear diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in patients living with HIV/AIDS with a clinical suspicion of PTB. This is a prospective study to assess the accuracy of a diagnostic test, conducted on 140 sputum specimens from 140 patients living with HIV/AIDS with a clinical suspicion of PTB, attended at two referral hospitals for people living with HIV/AIDS in the city of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. A Löwenstein-Jensen medium culture and 7H9 broth were used as gold standard. Of the 140 sputum samples, 47 (33.6%) were positive with the gold standard. q-PCR was positive in 42 (30%) of the 140 patients. Only one (0.71%) did not correspond to the culture. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the q-PCR were 87.2%, 98.9% and 95% respectively. In 39 (93%) of the 42 q-PCR positive cases, the CT (threshold cycle) was equal to or less than 37. q-PCR performed on sputum smears from patients living with HIV/AIDS demonstrated satisfactory sensitivity, specificity and accuracy, and may therefore be recommended as a method for diagnosing PTB.