Molecular Diagnosis - Howe Flashcards
1
Q
Why is antibody detection not very useful in the first few days of infection?
A
it can take several weeks for large antibody responses to mount
2
Q
What is a direct specimen?
A
pathogen is collected from otherwise sterile site
3
Q
What is an indirect sample?
A
when pathogen is located in sterile site, but must pass through a site containing normal flora. (ex, voided urine or expectorated sputum)
4
Q
WHat is the fastest test?
A
agglutination, antigen detection.
5
Q
How long must a patient be infected before ELISA is useful?
A
2-4 weeks
