title: Rapid detection of Epstein-Barr virus DNA by loop-mediated isothermal amplification method.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method is a novel technique for the amplification of specific DNA sequences.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish the LAMP method for amplifying Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA and to examine its reliability for the detection of EBV DNA in clinical specimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sera from 108 patients, who were initially suspected of primary EBV infection, were tested by the EBV LAMP method, and the results were compared with those of the real-time PCR assay. Serological examination was regarded as the standard diagnostic method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To diagnose primary EBV infection, the sensitivity of LAMP was 86.4% and the specificity was 100%. The sensitivity of the real-time PCR assay was 84.1% and the specificity was 98.4%. Longitudinal analysis showed that the detection rate of EBV DNA in serum by the LAMP method decreased with time in accordance with the decrease of the EBV load. EBV DNA could not be detected in serum 40 days after onset of symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that the sensitivity and specificity of the LAMP method are comparable to those of real-time PCR and that detecting EBV DNA in serum by this method is potentially useful for diagnosing primary EBV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Anjo Kosei Hospital, Anjo, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Yukiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: Jun-ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kawada
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishiyama
authors.forename: Tsuneo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morishima
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ihira
authors.forename: Tetsushi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: Yoshizo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kimura
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000821:virology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral