Specific and Rapid Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex in Clinical Samples by Polymerase Chain Reaction

Table 1

Characteristics of clinical samples and controls based on conventional diagnostic methods and other clinical symptoms.

Category	Status of the samples				Samples; (n)	Age; (Range)	Sex (Male/Female); (n)
	* AFB staining; (Z-N)^#	Culture	X-ray	Other
Group I	+	+	+	+	26	14–72	19/7
Group II	−	+	+	+	15	14–65	10/5
Group III	−	−	−	+	9	14–75	4/5
Group IV	−	−	−	−	10	15–60	8/2

* AFB: acid fast bacilli; ^#Z-N: ziehl-neelsen; +: positive; −: negative.