Pitfalls of molecular diagnostic testing for Coxiella burnetii DNA on throat swabs

ConclusionC. burnetii PCR on throat swabs is of low diagnostic value for Q fever pneumonia and was false positive in 15.3% of CAP patients without Q fever pneumonia. Recent consumption of C. burnetii-containing products can influence the outcome of C. burnetii PCR on throat swabs. Therefore, diagnosis of C. burnetii infection should be made in combination with serology or PCR performed on blood.

Source: Journal of Microbiological Methods - May 16, 2019 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research