Abstract: Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR) assay for detection ofMycobacterium tuberculosisDNA in paraffin-imbeded tissues.  Methods 275 tissue specimens were examined by routine histopathology and acid-fast bacillus (AFB) staining, and the FQ-PCR was applied for the detection ofMycobacterium tuberculosisDNA in paraffin-imbedded tissues.  Results Of 275 cases, 211(76.7%) were positive by FQ-PCR, 183 (66.5%) were positive by histopathology, and 23 (8.4%) were positive by AFB staining. Of 183 histopathology-positive cases, 171(93.4%) were FQ-PCR positive. Of 23 AFB-positive cases, 22 (95.7%) were FQ-PCR positive.  Conclusion The FQ-PCR assay is simple, rapid, highly sensitivie and specific. FQ-PCR combined with histopathology may improve the diagnostic accuracy for tuberculosis.

Key words: tuberculosis/ diagnosis, polymerase chain reaction, biopsy