title: A comparative study of detection of hepatitis E virus RNA by RT-PCR and digoxin probe techniques.
abstract: Techniques for detecting hepatitis E virus nucleic acid by RT-PCR and digoxin probe spot hybridization tests were developed. The examination by RT-PCR test of 250 stored stool specimens from patients with acute hepatitis E gave a positive rate of 40.9% and was positive in one stool specimen collected 28 days after the patient had contracted the illness. Serologic examination yielded a positive rate of 66.7%, and also utilizing the DIG probe labelled with PCR product it was 66.6%. RT-PCR with the digoxin probe proved to be suitable for clinical diagnosis and basic research on hepatitis E.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, People's General Hospital of Xinjiang, P.R. China.
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: W Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Z L
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Y N
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D015342:DNA Probes; D004077:Digoxin; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000821:virology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D012367:RNA, Viral; D004077:Digoxin