[Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis by polymerase chain reaction technique].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical value of detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA (MTB-DNA) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

METHOD

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was used to amplify gene of 240 bp DNA fragment prepared by Triton X-100 method, and some factors affecting PCR result were also analysed.

RESULT

In blood samples of 89 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and in sputum samples of 84 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, the positive rates of PCR were 73% and 57% respectively, and the total positive rate of combinative detection of blood and sputum samples was 87% in 84 pulmonary tuberculosis patients. In 30 non-tuberculosis patients, 3 showed MTB-DNA positive.

CONCLUSION

PCR technique prepared by Triton X-100 method is rapid, simple, specific, and sensitive for detection of MTB-DNA in PBMC, and its sensitivity and accuracy could be increased in combination with sputum MTB examination. Detection of MTB-DNA in PMBC is of value in diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.