infections
Tularemia
Diagnosis of Tularemia
Culture and testing of samples of blood and/or other infected fluids A doctor suspects tularemia in people who develop sudden fever, swollen lymph nodes, and characteristic sores after having been exposed to ticks or deer flies or after having even slight contact with rabbits, hares, or rodents. Samples of infected material, such as blood, fluids from a lymph node, pus from sores, or sputum, are taken. They are sent to a laboratory where the bacteria, if present, can be grown (cultured) and identified. Blood may also be tested for antibodies to the bacteria. Doctors may use the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique to increase the amount of the bacteria's DNA, so that the bacteria can be detected more quickly. 