Abstract

THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION (PCR) AND OTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AMONG TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS OF VARIOUS BLOOD GROUPS

*Mohemid M Al-Jebouri and Nuha M Wahid

ABSTRACT

Backgroud:Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by mycobacteria particularly Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It typically affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can affect other sites i.e. extrapulmonary TB. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), such as nucleic acid amplification (NAA) tests are used to amplify DNA for rapid identification of acid-fast bacilli.Methods: In the current study there were 150 patients (13 pulmonary TB, 5extra-pulmonary TB and 132 suspected TB patients) and 150 healthy control. The patient were examined for the presence of TB utilizing QuantiFERON-TB Gold In- Tube assay, polymerase chain reaction(PCR), AFB smear, OnSite TB rapid test, erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR) and chest X-ray. Results:PCR and QFT-GIT were found positive in almost 45% of the patients tested.The simultaneous Positivity of PCR test and AFB smear, OnSite TB rapid test, erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR) and chest Xray was variable. Conclusions:It was concluded that blood group (ABO) and rhesus typing were found to be the most prevalent in pulmonary TB patients with blood group O Rh +ve and the tests carried out were blood group related at some times. Real- time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a specific tool for early diagnosis of TB in a variety of clinical samples particularly with sputum.

Keywords: tuberculosis,PCR, QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube,Blood groups.