title: Detection of varicella-zoster virus by dot-blot hybridization using a molecularly cloned viral DNA probe.
abstract: Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection can be definitively diagnosed by isolation of virus in cell culture, a process that usually takes 7-14 days. In order to facilitate the more rapid detection of this virus, we developed a technique for hybridization of DNA from clinical specimens using an in vitro-labeled mixture of cloned fragments of VZV DNA as a probe. The assay can be completed in 36-48 hr and can be successfully carried out in the range of 10 pg to 10 ng of viral DNA. In analyses of 38 specimens from patients with a clinical diagnosis of VZV infection, the results of viral isolation and this assay were highly concordant. The sensitivity of standard cell culture for detection of VZV was 58%, whereas the sensitivity of the assay was 76%, not significantly different (P = 0.14). The specificity of cell culture was 100%, whereas that of the assay was 94% (P = 0.49). The technique appears to be sensitive, specific, and useful for analyses of tissues and body fluids.
mesh_terms: D001345:Autoradiography; D001768:Blister / Q000382:microbiology; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000382:microbiology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000382:microbiology; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000382:microbiology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral