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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffYour doctor may suspect plague if you live in a high-risk region or report a suspicious exposure. With the exception of a visible bubo, signs and symptoms often mimic other, much more common infectious diseases.
Medical history
You'll likely be asked to describe the type and severity of your symptoms and tell your doctor about your recent history, including whether you've been exposed to sick animals or traveled to areas with plague.
Bubo and respiratory fluid examination
If plague is suspected, your doctor may confirm the diagnosis through microscopic examination of fluid extracted from your bubo, bronchi or trachea. Needle aspiration is used to obtain fluid from your bubo. Fluid is extracted from your airways using endoscopy. In this procedure, a thin, flexible tube is inserted through your nose or mouth and down your throat. A suction device is sent down the tube to extract a fluid sample from your airways.
Blood test
Your doctor may also test blood drawn from your veins to diagnose plague. Y. pestis bacteria generally are present in your bloodstream only if you have septicemic plague.
