Introduction

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become an increasingly important tool in microbial diagnosis in recent years, mainly because of its rapidity, high sensitivity, and specificity. In a number of instances, particularly with noncultivatable and slow-growing microorganisms, reliable identification and differentiation became possible only after the introduction of PCR-based methods.

Because the number of published procedures is large and steadily rising, there is a need for critical evaluation, comparison of performance, and even also standardization of methods to enable laboratory diagnosticians to select the optimal methodology.

Purpose of the Book

PCR Detection of Microbial Pathogens is designed to provide an overview of the possibilities and problems connected with the use of PCR-based identification and detection of important bacterial and other microbial pathogens, among them several zoonotic agents.

It is intended to provide microbiologists and biochemists the opportunity to extend their knowledge of state-of-the-art detection procedures, as well as pre-PCR sample processing and various general aspects of PCR.

Contributors and Content

The chapters of this volume have been written by investigators well conversant with molecular detection and identification of microorganisms. They have contributed their extensive practical experience to the protocols, not only concerning PCR methodology itself, but also the highly important area of pre-amplification sample processing.