SIMPLE AND RAPID 2-STEP POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION FOR DIAGNOSIS OF PNEUMOCYSTIS-CARINII INFECTION

Two amplification steps were made to detect Pneumocystis carinii DNA b y polymerase chain reaction (PCR). pAZ102-E and pAZ102-H (standard PCR ), pAZ102-L2 (sense), and pAZ102-E (antisense) (two-step PCR) were use d as primers. The amplification products were analyzed by ethidium bro mide. After the two-step PCR, ethidium bromide detected all samples po sitive by oligohybridization after one amplification step. Our two-ste p PCR is a rapid, cost-effective, and clinically suitable method for t he detection of P. carinii infection.