Comparison of DNA extraction methods and real-time PCR assays for the molecular diagnostics of chronic Chagas disease.

Aim:This work aimed to compare the sensitivity of four protocols for the detection ofTrypanosoma cruziDNA in 98 blood samples from chronic Chagas disease patients.Materials & methods:Two DNA extraction (automated and manual) methods and twoT. cruzisatellite DNA qPCRs (with a recent design and the usually used set of primers) were analyzed.Results:Both DNA extraction methods and qPCR assays tested in this work gave comparable qualitative results, although the lowest Ct values were obtained when samples were analyzed using the new set of primers forT. cruzisatellite DNA.Conclusion:Our results encourage the implementation of automated DNA extraction systems and the newT. cruziqPCR for the molecular diagnostics and treatment response monitoring of chronic Chagas disease patients.