Pitfalls of nucleic acid amplification test for microorganisms in infectious diseases

Abstract

The pitfalls of nucleic acid amplification test for microorganisms in infectious diseases were reviewed. In real-life clinical practice, the principal pitfalls were false-negative results with the detection of gene in non-viable organisms post-treatment, the impact of sampling error, false-positive results due to contamination, false-negative results due to the target genetic mutation of nucleic acid amplification test, misinterpretation between assay time and turn around time. The understanding and attention to these pitfalls in genetic detection test will lead to get the trick well.