title: Detection and quantification of cell-free Epstein-Barr virus by polymerase chain reaction and subsequent DNA enzyme immunoassay.
abstract: Amplification by polymerase chain reaction and subsequent DNA enzyme immunoassay (DEIA) were employed to determine the number of genome equivalents of cell-free Epstein Barr virus (EBV) DNA in peripheral blood. The assay detected cell-free EBV DNA in the serum of 14 out of 18 patients with primary, productive EBV infection (sensitivity 77.7%) but not in healthy EBV carriers with latent infection (specificity 100%). Our assay has the potential for a clinical diagnostic tool to monitor patients at risk for EBV reactivation and productive infection with subsequent EBV-induced lymphoproliferative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, University Children's Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zingg
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bossart
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berli
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nadal
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002474:Cell-Free System; D002648:Child; D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral