Abstract: Objective To evaluate the clinical value of rapid diagnostic tuberculosis using TaqMan polymerase chain reaction(TaqMan-PCR) technique.Methods It was detected to the specimens of the peripheral blood from 155 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis, 130 patients with tuberculous pleurisy, 61 patients with tubercular meningitis, 52 patients with lung cancer and 33 healthy adults by TaqMan-PCR, and the specimens of pleural effusion from 130 patients with tuberculous pleurisy and 50 patients with malignant pleurisy, the specimens of cerebrospinal fluid from 61 patients with tubercular meningitis and the specimens of sputum from patients with 155 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and 52 patients with lung cancer by TaqMan-PCR and smear respectively. The specimens of sputum from patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis were detected simultaneously by culture with BACTEC and Lowenstein-Jensen. Results The positive rates of sputum and peripheral blood from patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and of pleural effusion and operipheral blood from patients with tuberculous pleurisy and of cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood from 61 patients with tubercular meningitis detected by TaqMan-PCR were 49%, 51.6%, 45.4%, 38.5%, 51%and 42.6%, respectively. The positive rates detected by TaqMan-PCR were higher significantly than those detected by smear, culture with BACTEC and Lowenstein-Jensen(P<0.05). The specificity of TaqMan-PCR detecting for sputum, pleural effusion and peripheral blood were 96.2%, 98% and 96.5%.Conclusion TaqMan-PCR method showed higher sensitivity and specificity. It is a useful tool for rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Key words: M. tuberculosis, pleural effusion, cerebrospinal fluid, PCR