Detection and identification of Mycobacterium species by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from paraffin-embedded tissue compare to AFB staining in pathological sections.

Abstract

The low sensitivity of the PCR method may be due to formalin fixation, deparaffinization process, DNA extraction method, the use of 16S rRNA-based primers and the length of the expected product, and the tissue type that may have Taq polymerase inhibitor. Therefore, PCR should be used to augment the information of the conventional method in the diagnosis of mycobacterial infection.