PCR: How Useful Is It?

摘要

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is a powerful tool that can detect very low levels of pathogens, but its ability to screen and produce results that represent the population is often oversimplified. Screening of the wrong tissues or too few animals can lead to incorrect conclusions. Also, the mere presence of a pathogen does not necessarily result in disease. Factors such as the presence of disease symptoms and the history of the population must also be considered.