title: Detection of Colorado Tick Fever viral RNA in acute human serum samples by a quantitative real-time RT-PCR assay.
abstract: A quantitative real-time RT-PCR assay for the detection of Colorado Tick Fever (CTF) viral RNA in human clinical samples is presented. The sensitivity of this assay has been shown to be greater than that of the isolation of virus in Vero cells by standard plaque assay in a direct comparison. The specificity of the CTF quantitative real-time RT-PCR assay was determined by the exclusive detection of CTF viral RNAs when applied to a diverse panel of CTF viral isolates and reference strain agents known to circulate in areas of CTF virus transmission. Lastly, the quantitative real-time RT-PCR assay demonstrated exceptional sensitivity for the detection of CTF viral RNA in acute human serum. The quantitative real-time RT-PCR assay is efficient, sensitive and specific and as such is useful for the detection of CTF viral RNA in the diagnostic or research laboratory.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Rampert Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA. ahk7@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Amy J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kosoy
authors.forename: Jason O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Velez
authors.forename: Brandy J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Lanciotti
mesh_terms: D003121:Colorado Tick Fever / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology*; D003122:Colorado tick fever virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral