DETECTION OF PNEUMOCYSTIS-CARINII IN OROPHARYNGEAL WASHINGS BY PCR-SHELA AND NESTED PCR

Oropharyngeal washings (Ophs) from 27 HIV infected patients (18 with P . carinii pneumonia, PCP, and 9 without PCP) were examined for P. cari nii using morphological staining and DNA amplification with PCR-SHELA and nested PCR methods. The comparison of these techniques shows that 1. the amplification of P. carinii DNA is more sensitive than (and as specific as) morphological staining; 2. PCR-SHELA is less sensitive th an (and as specific as) nested PCR.