title: Use of a single-tube nested real-time PCR assay to facilitate the early diagnosis of acute Q fever.
abstract: We have developed a single-tube nested real-time PCR (STN-RT PCR) assay using the repetitive, transposon-like element IS1111 as the DNA target to facilitate early diagnosis of acute Q fever. The use of our proposed diagnostic procedures, including IgM detection by serology and the STN-RT PCR assay, significantly increased the diagnostic sensitivity for Q fever to 78%, compared to 29% when serology alone was used for subjects providing mainly acute-phase blood samples.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory, Research and Diagnostic Center, Centers for Disease Control, Department of Health, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Min-Yi
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Min-Nan
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Po-Shan
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yung-Chung
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chien-Chou
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Pei-Yun
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.forename: Wen-Yi
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Ho-Sheng
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Li-Jen
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011778:Q Fever / Q000175:diagnosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004269:DNA, Bacterial