Clinical application of fluorescent quantitative PCR in the diagnosis of tuberculosis

Objective To evaluate the clinical application of fluorescent quantitative PCR( FQ-PCR),sputum smear,tuberculosis antibody serological tests and sputum culture in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.Methods The above mentioned four methods were performed in the tuberculosis group( 124 cases) and the non-tuberculosis group( 119 cases). The results were evaluated. Results The detective rate of FQ-PCR,sputum smear,sputum culture,and serological test was 58. 9%,30. 6%,47. 5% and 66. 1% respectively in the tuberculosis group( χ2= 35. 75,P 0. 01). In the non-tuberculosis group,FQ-PCR,sputum smear,and sputum culture had no positive results,and serological test showed 12 cases positive. FQ-PCR and serological test had a high sensitivity,Youden index,compliance rate,and negative predictive value. FQ-PCR,sputum smear,sputum culture had 100%of specificity and positive predictive value. Conclusion FQ-PCR has the advantages of high sensitivity and specificity. It is fast and simple in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.