Document Type
Article
Department/Program
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Publication Date
6-2008
Journal
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
Volume
80
First Page
81
Last Page
83
Abstract
: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays are useful tools for pathogen surveillance, butthey are only proxy indications of pathogen presence in that they detect a DNA sequence. To be use-ful for detection of actual infections, PCR assays must be thoroughly tested for sensitivity and speci-ficity, and ultimately validated against a technique, typically histology, which allows visualization ofthe parasite in host tissues. There is growing use of PCR assays for pathogen surveillance, but toooften the assumption is made that a positive PCR result verifies an infection in a tested host. Thisassumption is valid only if the assay has been properly validated for the geographic area and for thehosts examined. Researchers should interpret unvalidated PCR assay results with caution, and edi-tors and reviewers should insist that robust validations support all assertions that PCR results confirminfections.
DOI
10.3334/dao01925
Recommended Citation
Burreson, EM, Misuse of PCR assay for diagnosis of molluscprotistan infections (2008). Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 80, 81-83.
10.3334/dao01925
