Why do diagnostic tests for microorganisms sometimes produce false positive results?
Despite rigorous testing and optimization of routine diagnostic serological tests, false positive results may occur. Certain inbred strains (e.g.MRL/MpJ) and mice carrying specific genetic mutations (e.g. lymphoproliferation, Faslpr, and generalized lymphoproliferative disease, Faslgld) are prone to the development of autoimmune disorders making them especially susceptible to misdiagnosis. These strains produce large quantities of autoantibodies that circulate in the blood and produce nonspecific tissue reactions, which often produce false positive results in serological tests. In addition to serological testing, PCR is becoming more widely used as a diagnostic test method for microorganisms. Although the extreme sensitivity of PCR is often viewed as a test benefit, it also can create ambiguous results. Due to the power and sensitivity of PCR, the validity of test results depends greatly on the availability of appropriate control DNA samples (both positive and negative) for proper inte
