Optimal Specimens and Lesions for Mpox Diagnosis Using Real-Time PCR, South Korea

We analyzed 612 specimens from 135 patients with monkeypox virus clade IIb in South Korea by using real-time PCR. Crusted and anogenital skin lesions and rectal swab specimens demonstrated the highest positivity rates. Viral loads varied by lesion type, anatomic site, and time since symptom onset, supporting our specimen selection for clade IIb detection.