First international quality assurance study on the rapid detection of viral agents of bioterrorism.
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.
Niedrig
Matthias
M
Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany.
Schmitz
Herbert
H
Becker
Stephan
S
Günther
Stephan
S
ter Meulen
Jan
J
Meyer
Herman
H
Ellerbrok
Heinz
H
Nitsche
Andreas
A
Gelderblom
Hans R
HR
Drosten
Christian
C
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
D004279:DNA, Viral