Aspergillus PCR formidable challenges and progress.

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immuno-compromised patients, with an incidence of 4-10%, and with a mortality rate of 80-90%, such as in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients. Conventional diagnostic tests, like blood culture, are not useful in the diagnosis of Aspergillus spp. fungemia.