A real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction assay for the identification of Yersinia pestis using a field-deployable thermocycler.
Real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction is a microbial identification method that can provide rapid and accurate results using a field-deployable thermocycler, the RAPID ("ruggedized" advanced pathogen identification device). A Yersinia pestis-specific TaqMan assay required approximately 75 minutes and achieved a sensitivity of 100 fg of Y. pestis genomic DNA (20 genome equivalents). Specificity testing against a genomic DNA cross-reaction panel comprised of 22 bacterial species encountered in the respiratory tract resulted in no false positives. No cross-reaction occurred with human genomic DNA.
McAvin
James C
JC
Epidemiological Surveillance Division, Molecular Epidemiology Branch, Air Force Institute for Environment, Safety, and Occupational Health Risk Analysis, Brooks Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX 78235-5237, USA.
McConathy
Marlana A
MA
Rohrer
Andrew J
AJ
Huff
William B
WB
Barnes
William J
WJ
Lohman
Kenton L
KL
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes