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The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may be a particularly sensitive and effective method of detecting bacteria in amniotic fluid. Intraamniotic infection may cause premature labor in some pregnant women. Researchers collected amniotic fluid from 54 women in premature labor but without any clinical symptoms of amniotic infection. PCR revealed bacterial DNA in 56% of the fluid samples, while standard culturing techniques revealed bacteria in only 9%. PCR can detect extremely low concentrations of bacteria that may be missed by less sensitive bacterial cultures.