Table 1.
Comparison of microscopic, end-point PCR, RT-PCR, and β-D-glucan assays between PCP-patients and negative controls
| Patients with suspected PCP | P. jirovecii detection by: | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Methenamine-silver staining microscopy | Unyvero-HPN end-point PCRa | Sacace-P. jirovecii Real-TM PCR (Ct)b | β-D-glucan assay (pg/mL)c | |
| 1 | + | + + + | + (20) | 621 |
| 2 | - | - | + (28) | > 1000 |
| 3 | + | + + + | + (21) | 879 |
| 4 | + | + + + | + (21) | 960 |
| 5 | + | + + + | + (22) | > 1000 |
| 6 | - | - | - | > 1000 |
| 7 | - | - | - | > 1000 |
| 8 | - | - | - | > 1000 |
| 9 | - | - | - | > 1000 |
| 10 | + | + + + | + (26) | > 1000 |
| 11 | + | + + + | + (24) | > 1000 |
| 12 | - | - | - | > 1000 |
| 13 | + | + + + | + (18) | 591 |
| 14 | - | + | + (30) | 118 |
| 15 | - | - | - | > 1000 |
| 16 | - | - | - | 837 |
| 17 | + | + + + | + (19) | 255 |
| 18 | + | + + + | + (19) | < 10 |
| Total | 9 (50%) | 10 (55.6%) | 11 (61.0%) | 15 (83.3%) |
| Negative control patients | ||||
| 19 | - | - | - | 309 |
| 20 | - | - | - | < 10 |
| 21 | - | - | - | 115 |
| 22 | - | - | - | < 10 |
a + weakly, + + moderately, + + + intensely positive samples
b(Ct) stands for threshold cycle value
cResults were < 400 pg/mL = negative; 400–450 pg/mL = indeterminate; > 450 pg/mL = positive