[Clinical study of polymerase chain reaction technique in the diagnosis of bone tuberculosis].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical value of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique in diagnosis of bone tuberculosis.

METHODS

PCR, standard light-microscopy and standard culture technique were used to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis in samples obtained from 60 patients with bone tuberculosis and 20 patients without bone tuberculosis. In the meantime, some factors affecting PCR result were analysed and methods to deal with them were discussed.

RESULTS

In the group of 60 patients with bone tuberculosis, the positive rate was 83% in PCR technique, 3% in standard light-microscope technique and 7% in the standard culture technique. A statistically obvious difference was seen (P < 0.005). In the group of 20 patients without bone tuberculosis, 2 cases showed positive in PCR technique, none in the other methods. Specificity of PCR technique in a blind comparison study indicated 100%. The whole process of PCR amplification is fully automatic and can be finished within several hours, and the detection time is considerably reduced.

CONCLUSIONS

PCR technique is a rapid, specific, sensitive and simple method for detection of mycobacterium tuberculosis in sample of bone tuberculosis, and it is of great value in the diagnosis of bone tuberculosis and differentiating bone tuberculosis from other bone diseases.