Objective To develop Taqman technology based PCR for the detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae. Method Conserved DNA region of Chlamydia pneumoniae from GenBank was selected for the designing of the primers and probe. 560 clinical samples from Guangzhou Nanfang Hospital in 2007 were then analyzed. The specificity of the designed primers were evaluated using influenza A virus, influenza B virus, para-influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus and adenovirus. Result Non-specific amplification was not observed. Chlamydia pneumoniae was detected in 26 samples, in which 9 samples were obtained from throat swabs and 17 samples were from alveolus fluid. Conclusion The developed RT-PCR detection method may be used in the clinic diagnose of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection.

Objective To compare the advantage and disadvantage of fluorescent real-time polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR) with the conventional tissue culture method, hemagglutination test and serological subtyping influenza A virus. The aim is to establish a convenient and specific method for the identification of influenza A virus from clinical samples. Method 76 influenza virus isolates were used in the testing of the sensitivity and specificity of FQ-PCR. Two-fold serially diluted influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2 subtypes) was used in the testing of the sensitivity of FQ-PCR. The concentration of virus was determined hy hemagglutination test and titration on tissue culture. The sensitivity and specificity of FQ-PCR were also tested on 684 pharyngeal swab samples. Result 60 out of 76 infleunza virus infected cell culture supernatant were positively identified by FQ-PCR. The result was consistent with the conventional tissue culture, hemagglutination test and serological subtyping methods. The sensitivity of FQ-PCR is higher,in an order of 25～26, than the conventional tissue culture method. Conclusion FQ-PCR is a rapid, specific, and sensitive method for the detection of influenza A virus.