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This Article Full Text (Papers in Press[PDF]) All Versions of this Article: jmm.0.007328-0v1 58/8/1098    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Google Scholar Articles by Saha, D. C. Articles by Padma, M. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Saha, D. C. Articles by Padma, M. Agricola Articles by Saha, D. C. Articles by Padma, M.

Detection of Cryptococcus by conventional, serological and molecular methods

¹ All India Institute of Medical Sciences;

² All India Institute Of Medical Sciences

³ E-mail: immaxess{at}gmail.com

Received October 14, 2008
Accepted April 3, 2009

The rising trend of cryptococcosis in India is posing a serious threat. Due to lack of sensitive methods for diagnosis, a high morbidity and mortality is associated with the disease. Early diagnosis is essential to prevent serious complication. Therefore, we attempted to find highly sensitive and specific detection methods. A comparative evaluation for the detection of cryptococcosis was done by conventional: (direct microscopy, culture) and rapid diagnostic methods: (LAT, EIA and PCR). The study was done in 359 samples from 52 positive patients and 30 negative controls in an Indian set up. Evaluation was done for CSF, serum and urine separately. The diagnostic value of the tests was assessed in pre-treatment samples and follow up tests were also done in samples obtained after initiation of treatment. PCR had the highest detection limit, followed by EIA and LAT, both before and after treatment. The positive detection by LAT, EIA and PCR was the longest in CSF (>90 days), followed by serum (~65 days), then urine (~45 days), after initiation of treatment. Our results indicated that the sensitivity and specificity of PCR and EIA were comparable in urine, CSF and serum for diagnosis of cryptococcosis.