Comparison between PCR and detection of antigen in sera for diagnosis of pulmonary aspergillosis

We evaluated the usefulness of PCR and antigen detection for the diagnosis of pulmonary aspergillosis. Forty-four serum samples from patients with pul monary aspergillosis (33 with pulmonary aspergilloma, 4 with allergic bronc hopulmonary aspergillosis, 4 with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, and 3 w ith aspergillus pyothorax) were used in this study. PCR detection of Asperg illus DNA in serum samples was successful in 39 patients. Galactomannan ant igen was detected by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 25 patie nts and by latex agglutination test in 13 patients. Detection of Aspergillu s DNA in serum samples by nested PCR had the highest sensitivity of the thr ee methods tested for the diagnosis of pulmonary aspergillosis.