Assessment of conventional PCR and real-time PCR compared to the gold standard method for screening Streptococcus agalactiae in pregnant women.

In this study, we aimed to compare the performance of conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR (qPCR) assays as screening methods for GBS in pregnant women against the microbiological culture method considered as the gold-standard. A total of 130 samples from pregnant women were analyzed for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS software, version 20.0. The verified colonization rate was 3.8% with the gold-standard, 17.7% with conventional PCR assay, and 29.2% with the qPCR test. The trials with conventional PCR and qPCR had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 85.6% and 73.6%, respectively. The qPCR assay had a better performance compared to the gold-standard and a greater detection rate of colonization by SGB compared to conventional PCR assay. With its quick results, it would be suitable for using in routine screenings, contributing to the optimization of preventive approaches to neonatal GBS infection. PMID: 30471244 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Braz J Infect Dis - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Tags: Braz J Infect Dis Source Type: research