The limitations of polymerase chain reaction in the setting of possible recurrent tuberculosis: 2 instructional cases

Thomas R Schulz; Alan C Street; Emma S McBryde

doi:10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2010.07.022

The limitations of polymerase chain reaction in the setting of possible recurrent tuberculosis: 2 instructional cases

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2010 Nov;68(3):293-6. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2010.07.022.

Authors

Thomas R Schulz¹, Alan C Street, Emma S McBryde

Affiliation

¹ Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, Australia. [email protected]

PMID: 20955913
DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2010.07.022

Abstract

The interpretation of a positive result for Mycobacterium tuberculosis by nucleic acid amplification such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be challenging. We present 2 cases that illustrate the limitations of tuberculosis PCR on respiratory secretions in previously treated patients, even years after the previous disease episode.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Aged, 80 and over
Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
Bacteriological Techniques / methods*
Female
Humans
Middle Aged
Mycobacterium tuberculosis / classification*
Mycobacterium tuberculosis / genetics
Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification*
Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
Recurrence
Tuberculosis / diagnosis*
Tuberculosis / drug therapy
Tuberculosis / microbiology*

Substances

Antitubercular Agents