Reliability of quantitative real-time PCR for bacterial detection in cystic fibrosis airway specimens.

ABSTRACT: The cystic fibrosis (CF) airway microbiome is complex; polymicrobial infections are common, and the presence of fastidious bacteria including anaerobes make culture-based diagnosis challenging. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) offers a culture-independent method for bacterial quantification that may improve diagnosis of CF airway infections; however, the reliability of qPCR applied to CF airway specimens is unknown. We sought to determine the reliability of nine specific bacterial qPCR assays (total bacteria, three typical CF pathogens, and five anaerobes) applied to CF airway specimens. Airway and salivary specimens from clinically stable pediatric CF subjects were collected. Quantitative PCR assay repeatability was determined using triplicate reactions. Split-sample measurements were pe

SUBMITTER: Zemanick ET 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2994853 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature