Comparison of the automated cobas amplicor mycobacterium tuberculosis assay with the conventional methods for direct detection of mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in respiratory and extrapulmonary specimens

To evaluate the recently available Cobas Amplicor polymerase chain reaction [PCR] system for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex [MTBC] in well-characterized clinical specimens and to compare the results with clinical classification, conventional culture and staining techniques. Three hundred and forty-four clinical specimens consecutively received for culture of acid-fast bacilli by the laboratory of Zayed Military Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from 2004 to 2005, were used in this study. Acid-fast bacilli and culture for tuberculosis were compared with Cobas Amplicor PCR. The final diagnostic evaluation of the Cobas Amplicor MTB showed the followings: sensitivity 73.3%, specificity 99.4%, positive predictive value 84.6%, negative predictive value 98.8% and with accuracy of 98.2% for the Cobas Amplicor MTB assay. The automated Cobas Amplicor MTB assay is suitable for routine use in clinical laboratories

Transfusion transmitted virus in screened united Arab Emirates blood donors

To investigate the rate of infection caused by Torque teno virus [TTV] in United Arab Emirates [UAEs] healthy population as a pilot study in detecting TTV DNA in 100 healthy blood donors. We randomly choose a total of 100 healthy blood donors who attended Zayed Military Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE from January 20 to May 30, 2005. We carried out a real-time polymerase chain reaction [PCR] test to detect TTV DNA. Real-time for TTV was positive in 75 [75%] donors. Eight [73%] non-UAE donors were TTV positive while 67 [75%] were UAEs. Among these donors, 72 [77%] were males and 3 [50%] were females. Our results demonstrated a high prevalence of TTV in UAE