title: Development of a gene probe assay suitable for use in routine diagnosis: a pilot study using a DNA probe for parvovirus B19.
abstract: Although DNA probes have been widely applied in research for many years, lengthy and complex protocols, together with the use of radio-labelled probes, have hindered their introduction into routine diagnosis. In this study conventional methods were adapted to make gene probes more suitable for routine work and a biotin-labelled probe for human parvovirus B19 was utilised. The gene probe assay was shown to detect 0.25 pg of viral DNA per 5 microliters of serum in 20 h. A comparative study was carried out to assess the difference in antigen detection by gene probe with that of the more conventional methods of counter-current immunoelectrophoresis and immune electron microscopy. The application of probes in this manner may lead to their increased use in routine virological diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Laboratory, St Luke's Hospital, Guildford, Surrey, England, UK.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Shattock
mesh_terms: D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015342:DNA Probes; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010321:Parvoviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D004279:DNA, Viral