NYMC Faculty Publications
Frequency of Positive Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Testing for on Whole Blood Samples That Tested Positive for by PCR From an Endemic Area for Both Infections in New York State
Author Type(s)
Faculty
Journal Title
Pathogens
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-21-2023
Department
Medicine
Abstract
Because both and can be transmitted by the bite of a single coinfected tick, an attempt was made to determine the frequency with which whole blood samples that tested positive for infection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) would also test positive by PCR for infection. Over a 7-year period from 2013 to 2019, 119 different patients tested positive for infection by PCR on at least one blood sample. Among the 118 patients with a positive PCR blood sample that could also be tested by a qualitative PCR for only one patient tested positive (0.85%, 95% CI 0.02 to 4.6%). Routine PCR testing of every PCR-positive blood specimen to detect coinfection appears to have a low yield, even in a highly endemic geographic area for both of these infections.
Recommended Citation
Wang, G., Zhuge, J., & Wormser, G. P. (2023). Frequency of Positive Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Testing for on Whole Blood Samples That Tested Positive for by PCR From an Endemic Area for Both Infections in New York State. Pathogens, 12 (8). https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12081066
