Abstract: Objective To study the diagnostic value in patients with tuberculous meningitis of the detection of DNA of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in cerebrospinal fluid by Amplisensor-PCR.Methods The DNA of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in cerebrospinal fluid in 117 patients with tuberculous meningitis and 36 patients with non-tuberculous menigitis was detected by Amplisensor-PCR. The result was compared with the data detected by PCR, smear and culture.Results The positive rate of Amplisensor-PCR, smear and culture were respectively 57.3%, 1.7%and 6.7%; The sensitivity of Amplsensor-PCR was significantly high than that of smear and culture.(P＜0.001). Conclusion The lower limit of Amplisensor-PCR may be calculated and the value of primitive target DNA be covered through the standard curve. The Amplisensor-PCR had high specificity and sensitivity and diagnostic value to tuberculous meningitis.

Key words: Mycobacterium, tuberculosis, Polymerase chain reaction(PCR)