Use of the UV ParaLens adapter as an alternative to conventional fluorescence microscopy for detection of Pneumocystis carinii in direct immunofluorescent monoclonal antibody-stained pulmonary specimens

The UV ParaLens light microscope adapter offers a useful and cost-effective alternative to conventional fluorescence microscopy for Pneumocystis carinii identification, particularly in AIDS patients. In a blinded study, in which 153 pulmonary specimens were examined for P. carinii by direct immunofluorescence, 40 of 42 specimens positive by fluorescence microscopy were also positive by ParaLens. No false positives were observed.