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

Comparison of light cycler PCR and conventional susceptibility testing for detdction of MRSA from cultures

To compare a duplex light cycler polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay targeting the mecA gene and a Staphylococcus aureus [S. aureus] specific marker and the conventional method. We evaluated 400 samples sent to the laboratory in Zayed Military Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] screening and routine bacterial cultures from the period January 2003 to January 2004. All samples were cultured and identified according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standard guidelines. Staphylococcus aureus were tested for methicillin susceptibility according to the guidelines. All Staphylococcus positive cultures underwent testing by the new duplex light cycler PCR assay. We used 2 pairs of primers: mecA and nuc. Both targeted the mecA gene and the S. aureus-specific marker. Results obtained from the 2 methods [conventional culture method and the real-time PCR method] were compared. From the 400 samples tested, a total of 9 MRSA were detected by both methods. The real-time PCR method took less than 60 minutes to complete. This study shows that the duplex light cycler PCR assay method is very sensitive, very specific, and less time consuming in diagnosing MRSA from bacterial cultures