Abstract:
Introduction: Extra-Pulmonary Tuberculosis (EPTB) accounts
for approximately 40% of the tuberculosis cases. Though it is
not communicable, it is a significant cause of morbidity. This
study was conducted to know the efficacy of the Polymerase
Chain Reaction (PCR) as an additional tool, along with the con-
ventional methods, in the diagnosis of EPTB.
Materials and Methods: Clinical samples were collected from
suspected cases of EPTB. The Ziehl-Neelsen staining (ZNS),
culture on the Lowenstein-Jensen medium (LJM) and PCR
testing with the use of a commercial kit were performed on the
homogenized samples.
Results: A total of 182 samples which were received for the molecular diagnosis of EPTB were also tested by ZNS and cul-
ture on LJM for the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Of these, 22 were positive by at least one of the tests which
were used. PCR detected the maximum number of cases of
EPTB, followed by culture. The results of PCR and the conven-
tional tests were analyzed by using McNemar’s test for the cor-
related proportions-the exact method of ‘IBM SPSS Statistics
20’. The analysis showed a statistical significance.
Conclusions: Whenever they are feasible, using all the avail-
able tests in combination increases the laboratory detection
rates of M. tuberculosis from clinical samples. PCR must be
included in the diagnostic panel of EPTB.
