Blood Test For Ebola Doesn't Catch Infection Early

The test uses a technology called PCR, for polymerase chain reaction. It can detect extraordinarily small traces of genetic material from the Ebola virus. But the catch is, the test is usually used on blood samples. And in the beginning, that's not where the Ebola virus hides. "The initial sites of replication actually are not in the blood itself — they're mostly in tissues like spleen or liver," says Thomas Geisbert, a microbiologist at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Dr. Bhadelia spent 12 days caring for the sick in an Ebola ward. Her experience has convinced her that she must return. Goats and Soda A Doctor's Diary: Encountering Chaos And Kindness In An Ebola Ward It's not practical to sample these organs to look for Ebola http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/10/28/359567808/blood-test-for-ebola-doesnt-catch-infection-early