USE OF A MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY TO DETECT PNEUMOCYSTIS-CARINII IN INDUCED SPUTUM AND BRONCHOALVEOLAR LAVAGE FLUID BY IMMUNOPEROXIDASE STAINING

  • 1 December 1988
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 112  (12) , 1233-1236
Abstract
We evaluated the utility of a monoclonal antibody that recognizes Pneumocystis carinii as a diagnostic tool in specimens of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and sputum from patients in whom a diagnosis of P. carinii pneumonia was being considered. In addition to routine processing for diagnosis by morphologic recognition of P. carinii on a Diff-Quik-stained specimen, the specimen was reacted with a monoclonal antibody to P. carinii and visualized in an avidin-biotin horseradish peroxidase technique. Of 50 specimens evaluted, there was 94% agreement between results of conventional Diff-Quik staining and immunoperoxidase staining. Two Diff-Quic-positive specimens were negative by immunoperoxidase staining, and one Diff-Quik-negative specimen was positive by immunoperoxidase staining. These discrepancies are most likely attributable to random distribution of P. carinii onto smears. The monoclonal antibody used in this study can accurately detect P. carinii in induced sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid specimens.