Arch Pediatr Infect Dis. 2014 April; 2(2): 196-202. DOI: 10.5812/pedinfect.12505 Research Article Published Online 2014 April 10. Implementation and Assessment of the Use of Real-Time PCR in Routine Diagnosis for Bordetella pertussis Detection in Brazil 1, * 1 1 Daniela Leite , Roberta Morozetti Blanco , Leyva Cecilia Vieira de Melo , Cleiton Eduardo 1 1 1 1 Fiorio , Luciano Moura Martins , Tania Mara Ibelli Vaz , Sueli Aparecida Fernandes , 2 Claudio Tavares Sacchi 1 Center of Bacteriology, National Reference Laboratory for Pertussis, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Sao Paulo, Brazil 2 Center of Imunology, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Sao Paulo, Brazil *Corresponding author: Daniela Leite, Center of Bacteriology, National Reference Laboratory for Pertussis, Instituto Adolfo Lutz. Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 351 - 9ºandar, CEP: 01246-902, Sao Paulo-SP, Brazil. Tel: +55-1130682896, Fax: +55-1130819161, E-mail:
[email protected]. Received: ; Revised: ; Accepted: May 27, 2013 June 18, 2013 August 27, 2013 Background: Bordetella pertussis is the causative agent of pertussis. In Brazil, laboratory diagnosis of pertussis is based on the culture. In 2010, was standardized the Real-Time PCR TaqMan® in routine diagnosis. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact achieved with the introduction of RT-PCR for the routine diagnosis of pertussis and to compare with the results obtained from culture. Patients and Methods: 4,697 samples of nasopharyngeal secretions collected from suspected pertussis cases and/or contacts were analyzed for RT-PCR and culture, from January 2008 until the end of December 2011. Results: According to the results obtained from the samples 6.9% were culture/RT-PCR positive, 14.8% were positive only for RT-PCR and 0.2% only for culture.