Usefulness of PCR for detection of Pneumocystis carinii DNA.
Abstract
Diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is based on the identification of the various stages of the parasite in lung samples by standard staining techniques. We therefore assessed the value of the PCR for detection of P. carinii in bronchoalveolar lavage, induced sputum, and blood samples relative to that of standard staining techniques.