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Comparative evaluation of measles virus‐specific RT‐PCR methods through an international collaborative study
Author(s) -
Afzal M.A.,
Osterhaus A.D.M.E.,
Cosby S.L.,
Jin L.,
Beeler J.,
Takeuchi K.,
Kawashima H.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.10371
Subject(s) - measles virus , virology , measles , virus , real time polymerase chain reaction , biology , paramyxoviridae , nucleic acid , viral disease , gene , vaccination , genetics
Comparison of RT‐PCR assays established in house at various places revealed that laboratories could differ in sensitivity by as much as 1,000‐fold in terms of the ability to detect measles virus sequences in clinical samples. The study indicates that PCR findings, positive or negative, are questionable if they are not supported by the associated data demonstrating the overall sensitivity of the assay applied. Measles virus‐specific RT‐PCR‐based assays need to be validated using standard virus preparation or nucleic acid‐based target templates. A correlation between real‐time quantitative PCR and the conventional PCR for measles virus is highly desirable. J. Med. Virol. 70:171–176, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.