Identification of Beijing Lineage Mycobacterium tuberculosis with Combined Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Unit Loci 26, 31, and ETR-A

摘要

A rapid method for identification of Beijing lineage Mycobacterium tuberculosis is still needed in regions of tuberculosis endemicity, especially if genotyping methods are not readily accessible. After analyzing 1,557 clinical isolates, a PCR method with combined mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit loci 26, 31, and ETR-A for differentiation of Beijing lineage isolates was established, the sensitivity and specificity of which are 94.7% and 98.5%, respectively.