Molecular diagnostics of parasitic infections

Abstract

DNA-based methods have been available for many years in most clinical microbiology laboratories. However, until recently, these tools were not routinely exploited for the diagnosis of parasitic infections. Laboratories were reluctant to implement PCR, not knowing how to incorporate such an approach in the algorithm of tools available for the most accurate diagnosis of a large variety of parasites. This was especially noticeable in the diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infections, where the diversity of parasites that one can expect in most settings, is much smaller than the parasitological textbooks suggest. Therefore, the classical algorithm, which is based on population, patient groups, use of immuno-suppressive drugs, travel history, etc., is also applicable to the decision on whether or not to perform additional techniques when a multiplex PCR panel is used as a first line diagnostic.