title: A novel capillary electrophoresis-based multiplex PCR assay for detection of respiratory pathogens.
abstract: The field of infectious disease testing has recently experienced rapid expansion in the number of multiplexed PCR-based assays available for detecting respiratory pathogens. This study provides a preliminary evaluation of a multiplex assay from Seegene that uses capillary electrophoresis as the detection platform for viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens. We compared this technology to a real-time PCR assay for 3 viral targets. Thirty respiratory samples were collected that had previously tested positive for either Flu A, Flu B, or RSV (ten of each). The Seegene assay detected 9/10 Flu A samples, 9/10 Flu B, and 10/10 RSV, for a total detection rate of 93%. The two samples that were undetected by the Seegene assay both generated late-crossing thresholds on the real-time platform, consistent with low viral loads. The Seeplex assay provides a promising alternative for multiplex respiratory testing.
authors.affiliation: Associated Regional and University Pathologists (ARUP), Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, USA. stevenj@aruplab.com
authors.forename: Jeffery B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.forename: Weston C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Hymas
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hillyard
mesh_terms: D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D009841:Oligonucleotides