Removal of inhibitors of CSF-PCR to improve diagnosis of herpesviral encephalitis.
CSF-PCR is currently the most sensitive test to diagnose encephalitis due to cytomegalovirus or herpes simplex virus. However, false negative results sometimes arise due to inhibitors in CSF. We have shown that the inhibitory effects may be due to increased levels of proteins and increased cell numbers, but are not due to cellular DNA. Simple techniques were used to remove the inhibitors and successfully apply these methods to CSF specimens that gave equivocal results when tested untreated.
Virology Department, Centre for Infectious Diseases, ICPMR, Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia.
V M
VM
Ratnamohan
A L
AL
Cunningham
W D
WD
Rawlinson
D002460:Cell Line; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D019286:Endopeptidase K / Q000378:metabolism; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases / Q000235:genetics; D005916:Globulins; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012709:Serum Albumin; D014764:Viral Proteins
D004279:DNA, Viral; D005916:Globulins; C088645:IE1 protein, cytomegalovirus; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D014764:Viral Proteins; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases; C043417:DNA polymerase, Simplexvirus; D019286:Endopeptidase K