Quantitative real-time PCR tests for diagnostic and prognostic purposes in cases of legionellosis.

The usefulness of two quantitative real-time PCR assays (qrt-PCRmip targeting Legionella pneumophila, and qrt-PCR16S targeting all Legionella species) performed on lower respiratory tract (LRT) samples for diagnostic and prognostic purposes in 311 patients hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Rhône-Alpes (France) was evaluated. The Now Legionella urinary antigen test (UAT) from Binax (Portland, ME, USA) was used as a reference test. Samples were divided into two groups.