Use of a single-tube nested real-time PCR assay to facilitate the early diagnosis of acute Q fever.

We have developed a single-tube nested real-time PCR (STN-RT PCR) assay using the repetitive, transposon-like element IS1111 as the DNA target to facilitate early diagnosis of acute Q fever. The use of our proposed diagnostic procedures, including IgM detection by serology and the STN-RT PCR assay, significantly increased the diagnostic sensitivity for Q fever to 78%, compared to 29% when serology alone was used for subjects providing mainly acute-phase blood samples.