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. 1997 Jun;35(6):1589–1591. doi: 10.1128/jcm.35.6.1589-1591.1997

Detection of Pneumocystis carinii in respiratory specimens by PCR-solution hybridization enzyme-linked immunoassay.

E Ortona 1, P Margutti 1, E Tamburrini 1, P Mencarini 1, E Visconti 1, M Zolfo 1, A Siracusano 1
PMCID: PMC229794  PMID: 9163489

Abstract

By using a recently developed PCR-solution hybridization enzyme-linked assay (PCR-SHELA), we investigated Pneumocystis carinii in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples and induced sputa of patients with pneumocystosis. In detecting P. carinii, PCR-SHELA proved more sensitive than immunofluorescence staining or a single PCR and significantly more diagnostically specific than a nested PCR. Our data suggest that PCR-SHELA could be used to detect P. carinii organisms in respiratory samples, particularly in patients with uncertain diagnoses.

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Selected References

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