Андрофлор скрин

Androflor-screen (quantitative DNA, real-time PCR) assesses the male urogenital microbiome to identify sexually transmitted pathogens and conditionally pathogenic bacteria. The assay supports etiologic diagnosis of acute infectious–inflammatory conditions of the male genitourinary tract and provides quantitative organism levels. Quantitative reporting, together with a human genomic DNA control, helps verify specimen adequacy, track microbial burden over time, and evaluate therapeutic response. Results may inform the scope and intensity of antimicrobial treatment. Synonymous terms encountered in practice include Androflor-screen PCR and quantitative real-time PCR of urogenital flora.

Infections of the male urogenital tract are a leading contributor to impaired reproductive function. Persistent inflammation can damage the spermatogenic epithelium, disrupt the blood–testis barrier, and alter the rheology and composition of seminal fluid. These processes may also trigger autoimmune responses, including the formation of antisperm antibodies. Inflammatory activation increases reactive oxygen species and cytokine signaling, which can perpetuate secondary inflammation within reproductive tissues. Bacterial prostatitis is common across age groups, with reported frequencies ranging from 30% to 73%. It represents an inflammatory process within prostatic tissue of infectious or physiologic origin. Clinical manifestations can include painful, difficult urination and, in some cases, urinary retention for 24 hours or longer. Prostatic anatomy and relatively low blood flow can favor the accumulation of microbial by-products and promote tissue congestion, facilitating pathogen persistence. Traditional confirmation of bacterial prostatitis by culture often requires 7–14 days. In contrast, the Androflor real-time PCR approach yields results within several days, while the amplification step itself occurs over approximately 1–1.5 hours. Real-time PCR detects microbial DNA or RNA independent of culture or morphology, including organisms that do not grow in vitro. The method characterizes the microbiota of the sampled niche, quantifies target organisms, and enables longitudinal assessment of microbiome changes, while a human genomic DNA control serves as an internal check of sampling quality. In this format, a single Androflor-based study can replace multiple separate real-time PCR assays and extend detection to obligate anaerobes. The Androflor-screen configuration is intended for diagnosing and monitoring acute infectious–inflammatory conditions in men, whereas the broader Androflor panel encompasses additional targets, including those relevant to asymptomatic infection.