CCHF diagnosis
Two blood samples of at least 2 mL each were collected from every patient with suspected CCHF upon hospital admission. After 30 minutes of coagulation, the samples were centrifuged at 2000 rpm for 5 min and the serum was transferred to separate tubes. One serum sample from each patient was transported under appropriate conditions to the Erzurum Regional Public Health Laboratory, our regional reference center, for serologic and virologic tests. CCHF was diagnosed based on specific anti-IgM antibody detected by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positivity.