The human papillomavirus (HPV) poses a serious threat. Diagnostic testing is necessary to determine the strain of infection and its oncogenic risk. This information allows for the development of the most appropriate and effective treatment plan.
Chlamydia diagnosis using PCR is the most sensitive and specific method currently used in laboratories. Its sensitivity is 95-97%, and its specificity is 95-98%.
Mycoplasmas are considered opportunistic pathogens. They persist and parasitize on epithelial cell membranes and can be localized both extracellularly and intracellularly.
PCR allows for the direct detection of gonococcal DNA and quantification of its concentration in the sample. Samples may include sputum, lavage fluid, urine, aspirates from various organs and cysts, etc.
The diagnostic sensitivity of PCR for the detection of Helicobacter pylori in gastric mucosal biopsies is 88-95.4%, specificity is 100%; in coprofiltrates - 61.4-93.7% and 100%, respectively.
Unlike serological methods for diagnosing tuberculosis infection, which detect antibodies to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, PCR allows for the direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA and the quantitative expression of their concentration in the test material.
Recently, the detection of HSV 1 and 2 DNA in material from vesicles and ulcers of the skin or mucous membranes (including the conjunctiva of the eyes) using the PCR method (a very sensitive, specific and rapid diagnostic method) has been used to diagnose herpes infection.
Direct quantitative HIV RNA determination using PCR allows for a more accurate prediction of the rate of disease progression in HIV-infected individuals than CD4+ cell counts, and therefore a more accurate assessment of their survival. High viral particle counts typically correlate with severe immune impairment and low CD4+ cell counts.
