REAL TIME POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION (Q-PCR): IT’S COMPARISON WITH CONVENTIONAL TECHNIQUES FOR DIAGNOSIS OF TUBERCULAR LYMPHADENOPATHY
Dr. Sheikh Ishaq*, Dr. Rumana Farooq Mir, Dr. Saima Mushtaq, Dr. Harman Kaur, Dr. Shabhat Rasool
ABSTRACT
This test validation study was to compare real-time PCR (Q-PCR) with conventional techniques (represented by
Acid fast bacilli smear, Histopathology and culture method) in the laboratory diagnosis of tubercular
lymphadenopathy in a rural medical college in north India. The study was undertaken on a total of 174 patients of
both sexes and various age groups attending the indoor and OPD of tuberculosis and chest disease department. In
addition to acid fast bacilli smear and Lowenstein-Jensen culture Q-PCR, histopathological test were used to
diagnose tubercular lymphadenopathy. The results show that the sensitivities of the histopathological diagnosis,
AFB smear, Q-PCR were 73.3%, 53.3% and 100% respectively and the specificity of histopathological diagnosis,
AFB smear and Q-PCR were 94%, 88.1% and 97.6% respectively in comparison to culture that was considered
gold standard. Q-PCR can be used for early and prompt diagnosis of tubercular lymphadenitis, which can aid in
initiating a timely anti-tubercular treatment and prevent irreversible sequelae associated with morbidity of the
disease.
Keywords: Tubercular Lymphadenopathy, Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction, Histopathology, Culture, AFB.
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