Combining PCR with microscopy to reduce costs of laboratory diagnosis of buruli ulcer

dc.contributor.authorYeboah-Manu, D.
dc.contributor.authorAsante-Poku, A.
dc.contributor.authorAsan-Ampah, K.
dc.contributor.authorAmpadu, E.D.E.
dc.contributor.authorPluschke, G.
dc.date.accessioned2013-06-17T09:14:46Z
dc.date.accessioned2017-10-16T13:04:46Z
dc.date.available2013-06-17T09:14:46Z
dc.date.available2017-10-16T13:04:46Z
dc.date.issued2011
dc.description.abstractThe introduction of antibiotic therapy as first-line treatment of Buruli ulcer underlines the importance of laboratory confirmation of clinical diagnosis. Because smear microscopy has very limited sensitivity, the technically demanding and more expensive IS2404 diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become the main method for confirmation. By optimization of the release of mycobacteria from swab specimen and concentration of bacterial suspensions before smearing, we were able to improve the detection rate of acid-fast bacilli by microscopy after Ziehl-Neelsen staining. Compared with IS2404 PCR, which is the gold standard diagnostic method, the sensitivity and specificity of microscopy with 100 concentrated specimens were 58.4% and 95.7%, respectively. We subsequently evaluated a stepwise laboratory confirmation algorithm with detection of AFB as first-line method and IS2404 PCR performed only with those samples that were negative in microscopic analysis. This stepwise approach reduced unit cost by more than 50% to $5.41, and the total costs were reduced from $917 to $433.en_US
dc.identifier.citationYeboah-Manu, D., Asante-Poku, A., Asan-Ampah, K., Ampadu, E. D. E., & Pluschke, G. (2011). Combining PCR with microscopy to reduce costs of laboratory diagnosis of buruli ulcer. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 85(5), 900-904.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://197.255.68.203/handle/123456789/3249
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherAmerican Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygieneen_US
dc.titleCombining PCR with microscopy to reduce costs of laboratory diagnosis of buruli ulceren_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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