Direct detection of human herpesvirus 6 DNA in serum by the loop-mediated isothermal amplification method.
BACKGROUND
A more rapid and easier method is needed for monitoring human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) infections. The loop-mediated isothermal amplification method (LAMP) can detect viral DNA with high specificity, efficiency, and speed under isothermal conditions. LAMP requires only simple equipment that is available in hospital laboratories.


OBJECTIVE
We evaluated LAMP as a means of detecting HHV-6 DNA directly from patients' sera.


RESULTS
The sensitivity of the HHV-6 LAMP protocol without heat denaturation was 1000 copies/tube; with heat denaturation 10 copies/tube were detected. Three hundred serum samples from children with fever were analyzed. Using HHV-6 isolation as a definition of HHV-6 infection, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the HHV-6 LAMP method without DNA extraction were 95.5%, 95.2%, 94.0%, and 96.4%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Direct detection of HHV-6 DNA in serum with a modified HHV-6 LAMP could be used for rapid diagnosis of exanthem subitum (ES).
Ihira
Masaru
M
Department of Medical Information Technology, Fujita Health University College, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan.
Akimoto
Shiho
S
Miyake
Fumi
F
Fujita
Ayano
A
Sugata
Ken
K
Suga
Sadao
S
Ohashi
Masahiro
M
Nishimura
Naoko
N
Ozaki
Takao
T
Asano
Yoshizo
Y
Yoshikawa
Tetsushi
T
D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005077:Exanthema Subitum / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral