Efficiency of fine-needle aspiration compared with other sampling techniques for laboratory diagnosis of Buruli ulcer disease

In accordance with recent WHO recommendations, this study evaluates the sensitivities of PCR and microscopy for fine-needle aspiration (FNA) versus techniques involving swabs and punch biopsy specimens and suggests that FNA can replace punch biopsies for nonulcerative lesions and may serve as an alternative for ulcerative lesions in cases where scarred edges prevent the collection of swabs. Copyright © 2010, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.