Table 4.
Comparison of conventional procedures with single step mPCR and nested multiplex PCR for detection of Mycobacterium spp. in different groups of clinical specimens
| Type | Study group | No. of patients (n = 600) | Single-step mPCR (%) | Nested multiplex PCR (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group A | Definitive TB group (N = 348) | |||
| AFB smear + ve Culture + ve | 255 (42.5) | 237 (92.9) | 255 (100) | |
| AFB smear –ve Culture + ve | 93 (15.5) | 72 (77.4) | 92 (98.9) | |
| Group B | Probable TB group (N = 47) | |||
| AFB smear + ve Culture –ve | 47 (7.8) | 31 (66.0) | 45 (95.7) | |
| Group C | Possible TB group (N = 55) | |||
| AFB smear -ve Culture –ve | 55 (9.2) | 25 (45.4) | 43 (78.2) | |
| Group D | Non-TB group (N = 150) | 150 (25) | 0 | 2 (1.3) |
| Total | 600 | 365 (60.8) | 437 (72.8) |
+ve positive, -ve negative