Polymerase chain reaction laboratory organization

Diagnosis and Treatment Skin anthrax may be diagnosed from the biopsy of the sore and performing microscopic examination of the organism. Inhalation anthrax however, is difficult to diagnose. Chest x-ray, lab cultures and blood tests should be carried out. Rapid laboratory tests may be carried out to diagnose anthrax. Such tests include polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) methods. 

A thorough history that elicits details of appropriate exposure (eg, laboratories, animals, animal products, or environmental exposure to locations inhabited by potentially infected animals) is the most important diagnostic tool. Brucellosis should also be strongly considered in differential diagnosis of febrile illness if troops have been exposed to a presumed biological attack. Polymerase chain reaction and antibody-based antigen detection systems may demonstrate the presence of the organism in environmental samples collected from the attack area. 

A technology that could read the DNA from a sample and rapidly and accurately identify the organisms therein would address this problem. Using the mechanisms discussed heretofore in this chapter, a system has been developed with these capabilities. Currently, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification followed by fluorescent analysis is the most common method of DNA identification. PCR is a well-understood and reliable laboratory process, but it is highly susceptible to contamination, is labor intensive, and requires a skilled operator and specialized equipment. It is best suited to use within a laboratory... 

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