Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Improved detection ofPneumocystis carinii by an immunofluorescence technique using monoclonal antibodies

  • Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To assess whether a recently developed indirect immunofluorescent stain using monoclonal antibodies was more sensitive in detectingPneumocystis carinii than the combination of Giemsa and methenamine silver nitrate stains which has routinely been used in the laboratory, 88 lavage fluid specimens and 34 induced sputum specimens were examined. All specimens were stained by five techniques: immunofluorescence using a combination of three monoclonal antibodies (from the National Institutes of Health, USA), immunofluorescence using a single monoclonal antibody (from Dakopatts), Giemsa, methenamine silver nitrate and toluidine blue O. Immunofluorescence using the monoclonal antibodies from the NIH was significantly more sensitive than any other single staining method and than the combination of Giemsa and methenamine silver nitrate staining. The study also showed that the cytospin centrifuge was very suitable for the preparation of slides with lavage fluid and processed induced sputum. Finally, the sensitivity of examination of induced sputum to detectPneumocystis carinii was found to be 50 % when compared with bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. However, this sensitivity may increase through practice.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gill VJ, Evans G, Stock F, Parrillo JE, Masur H, Kovacs JA: Detection ofPneumocystis carinii by fluorescent-antibody stain using a combination of three monoclonal antibodies. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1987, 25: 1837–1840.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Kovacs JA, Gill V, Swan JC, Ognibene F, Shelhammer J, Parrillo JE, Masur H: Prospective evaluation of a monoclonal antibody in diagnosis ofPneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Lancet 1986, ii: 1–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Linder E, Lundin L, Vorma H: Detection ofPneumocystis carinii in lung-derived samples using monoclonal antibodies to an 82 kDa parasite component. Journal of Immunological Methods 1987, 98: 57–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Ognibene FP, Shelhammer J, Gill V, Macher AM, Loew D, Parker MM, Gelman E, Fauci AS, Parrillo JE, Masur H: The diagnosis ofPneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome using subsegmental bronchoalveolar lavage. American Review of Respiratory Diseases 1984, 129: 929–932.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Rorat E, Garcia RL, Skolom J: Diagnosis ofPneumocystis carinii pneumonia by cytologic examination of bronchial washings. Journal of the American Medical Association 1985, 254: 1950–1951.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Golden JA, Hollander H, Stulbarg MS, Gamsu G: Bronchoalveolar lavage as the exclusive diagnostic modality forPneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Chest 1986, 90: 18–22.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Orenstein M, Webber CA, Cash M, Heurich AE: Value of bronchoalveolar lavage in the diagnosis of pulmonary infection in acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Thorax 1986, 41: 345–349.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Kovacs JA, Ng VL, Masur H, Leoung G, Hadley WK, Evans G, Lane C, Ognibene FP, Shelhammer J, Parrillo JE, Gill VJ: Diagnosis ofPneumocystis carinii pneumonia: improved detection in sputum with use of monoclonal antibodies. New England Journal of Medicine 1988, 318: 589–593.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Leigh TR, Parsons P, Hume C, Husain OAN, Gazzard B, Collins JV: Sputum induction for diagnosis ofPneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Lancet 1989, ii: 205–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. O'Brien RF, Quinn JL, Miyahara BT, Lepoff RB, Cohn DL: Diagnosis ofPneumocystis carinii pneumonia by induced sputum in a city with moderate incidence of AIDS. Chest 1989, 95: 136–138.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Zaman MK, Wooten OJ, Suprahmanya B, Ankobiah W, Finch PJP, Kamholz SL: Rapid noninvasive diagnosis ofPneumocystis carinii from induced liquefied sputum. Annals of Internal Medicine 1988, 109: 7–10.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Bigby TD, Margolskee D, Curtis JL, Michael PF, Sheppard D, Hadley WK, Hopewell PC: The usefulness of induced sputum in the diagnosis ofPneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. American Review of Respiratory Diseases 1986, 133: 515–518.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Pitchenik AE, Ganjei P, Torres A, Evans DA, Rubin E, Baier H: Sputum examination for the diagnosis ofPneumocystis carinii pneumonia in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. American Review of Respiratory Diseases 1986, 133:226–229.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Elvin KM, Björkman A, Linder E, Heurlin N, Hjerpe A:Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia: detection of parasites in sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid by monoclonal antibodies. British Medical Journal 1988, 297: 381–384.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Orholm M, Lundgren JD, Nielsen TL, Iversen J: Indication for fiberoptic bronchoscopy in HIV-infected patients suspected forPneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Danish Medical Bulletin 1990, 37: 86–89.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Holten-Andersen W, Kolmos HJ: Comparison of methenamine silver nitrate and Giemsa stain for detection ofPneumocystis carinii in bronchoalveolar lavage specimens from HIV infected patients. APMIS 1989, 97: 745–747.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Grocott RG: A stain for fungi in tissue sections and smears. American Journal of Clinical Pathology 1955, 25: 975–979.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Gosey LL, Howard RM, Witebsky FG, Ognibene FP, Wu TC, Gill VJ, MacLowry JD: Advantages of a modified toluidine blue O stain and bronchoalveolar lavage for the diagnosis ofPneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1985, 22: 803–807.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Dournon E, Rajagopalan P, Albert F, Camus F, Marche C, McLauchlin J, Samuel D, Taylor AG: Diagnosis ofPneumocystis carinii pneumonia by non-experts. Lancet 1989, i: 107–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Infectious Diseases 144, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, DK-2650, Hvidovre, Denmark

    M. Orholm & J. D. Lundgren

  2. Department of Clinical Microbiology 445, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, DK-2650, Hvidovre, Denmark

    M. Orholm & W. Holten-Andersen

Authors
  1. M. Orholm
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W. Holten-Andersen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. D. Lundgren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Orholm, M., Holten-Andersen, W. & Lundgren, J.D. Improved detection ofPneumocystis carinii by an immunofluorescence technique using monoclonal antibodies. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 9, 880–885 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01967503

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01967503

Keywords

Search

Navigation