title: First international quality assurance study on the rapid detection of viral agents of bioterrorism.
abstract: We have conducted an international quality assurance study of filovirus, Lassa virus, and orthopox virus PCR with 24 participants. Of the participating laboratories, 45.8 and 66.7% detected virus in all plasma samples, which contained > or = 5,000 and > or = 100,000 copies per ml, respectively. Sensitivity levels were not significantly different between viruses. False-negative results were attributable to a lack of sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niedrig
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Günther
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: ter Meulen
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ellerbrok
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nitsche
authors.forename: Hans R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Gelderblom
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Drosten
mesh_terms: D023482:Bioterrorism; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D007753:Laboratories; D007836:Lassa virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D029024:Marburgvirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018155:Orthopoxvirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011786:Quality Control; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral