[Rapidity versus reliability: a critical analysis of the rapid diagnosis of mycobacterial infections with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)].

In this contribution we analyzed the reliability and the diagnostic value of the results obtained by direct amplification of mycobacterial DNA from patient specimens. Presently, the PCR-method is not as sensitive as recommended culture techniques. In cases of low concentration of mycobacteria in specimens (microscopic negative!) false-negative PCR-results are not rare.