title: Coupling multiplex RT-PCR to a gene chip assay for sensitive and semiquantitative detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus.
abstract: An early and accurate diagnostic assay for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is crucial for infection control. However, most of the diagnostic methods available today, such as real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), require a second detection method for confirmation because they detect a single sequence region of the SARS-coronavirus (SARS-CoV). For sensitive and accurate early diagnosis, we report a novel assay system combining multiplex RT-PCR and a diagnostic gene chip to detect multiple virus-specific genomic sequences of SARS-CoV. With 53 clinical specimens, we successfully demonstrate that this technique offers not only a high-accuracy diagnosis for early SARS infection but also a semiquantitative assay.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Taipei, Taiwan. juang@nhri.org.tw
authors.forename: Jyh-Lyh
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Juang
authors.forename: Tsan-Chi
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shih Sheng
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Chao A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hsiung
authors.forename: Wei-Chen
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Guang-Wu
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shiang-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jih-Hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shu-Chun
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Yiu-Kay
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D018075:RNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D018075:RNA, Complementary; D012367:RNA, Viral