Real-time PCR detection of environmental mycobacteria in house dust.

Analysing the number and species of microbes in indoor dust is needed for assessment of human exposure to microbes in dwellings. Environmental mycobacteria are common heterotrophic bacteria in both natural and man-made environments and potential inducers of human immune system. Culture of mycobacteria from samples rich with other microbes is difficult due to the slow growth rate of mycobacteria and this has hampered the studies on their role in indoor human exposure.