EVALUATION OF A RAPID AIR THERMAL CYCLER FOR DETECTION OF MYCOBACTERIUM-TUBERCULOSIS

The Air Thermal Cycler (ATC) (Idaho Technology, Idaho Falls, Idaho) ut ilizes the unique technology of small-volume glass capillary tubes and high-velocity air for the heating and cooling medium for the PCR, Sta ndard heat block thermal cycler (HBTC) and ATC performance characteris tics were compared for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Se nsitivity was 100% for all smear-positive, M. tuberculosis culture-pos itive specimens for both the HBTC and the ATC, Of smear-negative, M, t uberculosis culture-positive specimens, sensitivity was 42.9% with the HBTC and 22.0% with the ATC. Specificity was 100% for both assay syst ems, Total assay time was 6.5 and 4 h and the reagent cost was 84 and 32 cents for the HBTC and ATC, respectively, The ATC offered an excell ent alternative to the traditional HBTC for diagnosis of M. tuberculos is in smear-positive specimens by PCR.