Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction improves conventional microbiological diagnosis in an outbreak of brucellosis due to ingestion of unpasteurized goat cheese.

Rapid diagnosis of individuals involved in brucellosis outbreaks can sometimes be difficult with conventional microbiological techniques. We analyzed, for the first time, the diagnostic yield of a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay in a family outbreak of brucellosis due to consumption of unpasteurized goat cheese. PCR correctly identified all symptomatic cases.