Evaluation of women with infertility and genital tuberculosis

OBJECTIVE(S) : To study the genital tuberculosis by identifying mycobacterial DNA with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and with different laboratory methods available for its diagnosis. METHOD(S) : Biopsy or curettage samples from 65 women clinically suspected to have genital tuberculosis were investigated with smear microscopy, histopathology, culture, and PCR for the mycobacterium. RESULTS : Of the 65 clinically suspected patients investigated, only eight were acid fast bacilli (AFB) smear positive, 12 were culture positive, 17 were histology positive, and 28 were positive by PCR. CONCLUSION(S) : A combination of PCR with the other available technics is the best method of achieving sufficient sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of female genital tuberculosis.