The diagnostic utility of microscopic quality assessment of sputum samples in the era of rapid syndromic PCR testing.

ABSTRACT: This prospective study assessed the value of initial microscopy evaluation of sputum samples submitted for rapid syndromic PCR-based testing. Bacterial detections by the BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel plus in 126 high- and 108 low-quality sputum samples, based on initial microscopy evaluation in samples from patients with lower respiratory tract infections were compared. We found that high-quality samples had a higher proportion of bacterial detections compared to low-quality samples (P = 0.013). This included a higher proportion of detections of bacteria deemed clinically relevant by predefined criteria (70% and 55%, P = 0.016), as well as a higher proportion of detections of Haemophilus influenzae (36% and 20%, P = 0.010). High-quality samples also h

SUBMITTER: Markussen DL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10581175 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature