title: Temperature related storage evaluation of an RT-PCR test kit for the detection of dengue infection in mosquitoes.
abstract: The rapid detection of dengue infection in mosquito vectors is important for early warning to forestall an outbreak. Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) provides a rapid method for dengue detection in man and mosquitoes. An RT-PCR kit developed by the Medical Entomology Unit, Institute for Medical Research to detect dengue infection in mosquitoes, was tested for its shelf life at 3 storage temperatures: room temperature, refrigerator and freezer. Test kits were tested once every 3 days for kits stored at room temperature, and once every week for those stored at refrigerator and freezer temperatures. The results showed that the test kit could only be stored above its recommended storage temperature of -20 degrees C for not more than 3 days. DNA 100 bp markers in the kits appeared to be stable at the tested temperatures and were usable up to the 20th day when stored at 2 degrees C and below.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Medical Entomology, Institute for Medical Research, Jalan Pahang, 50588 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Cher Pheng
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Ooi
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rohani
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zamree
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009033:Culicidae / Q000821:virology*; D003715:Dengue / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004356:Drug Storage; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000821:virology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic