The clinical value of RT-FQ-PCR method for Cryptococcus neoformans detection in blood

HUANG Ming-shan; JIN Ting

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-7151.2015.01.008

Abstract：Objective To investigate the clinical application value of real-time fluorescent quantita-tive polymerase chain reaction(RT-FQ-PCR) method for Cryptococcus neoformans detection in blood. Meth-ods The blood samples of 47 patients with probable Cryptococcus neoformans infection were selected from February 2014 to July 2014 in hospital. The blood samples were measured by routine culture method and de-tected DNA fragments by RT-FQ-PCR method. And the detection rates were evaluated by statistical method. Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Es-cherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus were detected by RT-FQ-PCR method to evaluate the specificity. The concentration of Cryptococcus neoformans solution was detect-ed by RT-FQ-PCR method and routine culture method to evaluate the sensitivity. Results In RT-FQ-PCR method detection, only Cryptococcus neoformans had fluorescence signal. In 5/mL concentration of Cryptococ-cus neoformans solution, Cryptococcus neoformans was only detected by RT-FQ-PCR method. In 47 cases probable Cryptococcus neoformans infection patients, positive rate of routine culture method was 23.40%(11 cases), and positive rate of RT-FQ-PCR method was 29.79%(14 cases). The difference had no statistical sig-nificance (P>0.05). Conclusion RT-FQ-PCR method and routine culture method have a higher concor-dance for Cryptococcus neoformans detection. RT-FQ-PCR method can detect low concentration of Cryptococ-cus neoformans. Compared with routine culture method, RT-FQ-PCR has shorter time, higher sensitivity and specificity, which can reduce report time and provide reliable basis for clinical early diagnosis and treatment of Cryptococcus neoformans infection.