Validation and clinical application of a molecular method for identification of Histoplasma capsulatum in human specimens in Colombia, South America.

ABSTRACT: The conventional means of diagnosis of histoplasmosis presents difficulties because of the delay to the time that the diagnosis is made, indicating the need for the implementation of molecular assays. We evaluated 146 clinical samples from 135 patients suspected of having histoplasmosis using a previously reported nested PCR assay for the Histoplasma capsulatum-specific 100-kDa protein (the Hc100 PCR). In order to determine the specificity of this molecular test, we also used samples from healthy individuals (n = 20), patients suspected of having respiratory disease with negative fungal cultures (n = 29), and patients with other proven infections (n = 60). Additionally, a sizable collection of DNA from cultures of H. capsulatum and other medically relevant pathogens was studied. A panfunga

SUBMITTER: Munoz C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2812102 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature