Molecular diagnostics for infectious disease in small animal medicine: an overview from the laboratory

Molecular diagnostic tests have augmented the way in which veterinary practitioners approach the diagnosis of infectious disease. The technical bases of these tests are explained in addition to the general clinical applications for which they are most aptly suited, as individual assays are best discussed in the context of their respective diseases. In this article, an emphasis is placed on validation of molecular tests so that practitioners can be educated consumers of molecular diagnostics. The relationships between disease prevalence and positive and negative predictive values are discussed. Finally, examples of the pitfalls of multiplex polymerase chain reaction testing are illustrated.