GENITOURINARY TUBERCULOSIS - RAPID DIAGNOSIS USING THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

We present the case of a patient with suspected genitourinary tubercul osis in whom confirmation by direct smear examination was negative. De tection of mycobacterial DNA by use of the polymerase chain reaction ( PCR) established the diagnosis, which was confirmed by culture 4 weeks later. Given its very high sensitivity and positivity, PCR may become the method of choice for rapid diagnosis of genitourinary tuberculosi s and institution of therapy.