Assessment of Real-Time PCR Assay for Detection of Rickettsia spp. and Rickettsia rickettsii in Banked Clinical Samples

Two novel real-time PCR assays were developed for the detection of Rickettsia spp. One assay detects all tested Rickettsia spp.; the other is specific for Rickettsia rickettsii. Evaluation using DNA from human blood and tissue samples showed both assays to be more sensitive than nested PCR assays currently in use at the CDC.