Preliminary comparison of three LightCycler PCR assays for the detection of herpes simplex virus in swab specimens.
Three Herpes Simplex Virus LightCycler polymerase chain reaction assays were compared for the detection of herpes simplex virus in 48 swab specimens. The assays comprised of one in-house assay and two commercial kits: the Artus HSV LC RealArt PCR kit and the Roche LightCycler HSV 1/2 Detection kit. On the whole, the three assays had comparable sensitivities. However, differentiation of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 by melting curve analysis was problematic in all assays. Overall, the results highlight the limitations of typing herpes simplex virus by melting curve analysis.
Whiley
D M
DM
Clinical Virology Research Unit, Sir Albert Sakzewski Virus Research Centre, Royal Children's Hospital and Health Service District, Herston Road, 4029 Herston, Queensland, Australia.
Syrmis
M W
MW
Mackay
I M
IM
Sloots
T P
TP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012867:Skin / Q000821:virology; D013048:Specimen Handling
D004279:DNA, Viral