Diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis by polymerase chain reaction on neonatal peripheral blood.

In a cohort of 12 consecutive neonates, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) established the diagnosis of 5 of 6 cases of congenital toxoplasmosis and did so earlier than serologic methods. We validated that PCR using neonatal peripheral blood is a sensitive, rapid, and cost-effective method to affirm the diagnosis of previously undiagnosed congenital toxoplasmosis.