title: Standardized positive controls for detection of norovirus by reverse transcription PCR.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Norovirus is one of the most common causes of nonbacterial gastroenteritis in humans. Rapid spread by contaminated food and person-to-person transmission through the fecal-oral route are characteristics of norovirus epidemiology and result in high morbidity in vulnerable patient populations. Therefore, detection of norovirus is a major public health concern. Currently, the most common method for detecting and differentiating among norovirus strains in clinical and environmental samples is reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Standardized positive controls used in RT-PCR assays to detect norovirus are designed to overcome the problem of false-negative results due to PCR inhibitors and suboptimal reaction conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the current study, four types of RNA transcripts were produced from plasmids: norovirus GI-5 and GII-4 capsid regions with human rotavirus (VP7 gene derived) fragment insertions, and norovirus GI-6 and GII-4 capsid regions with hepatitis A virus (VP1/P2A gene derived) fragment insertions. These size-distinguishable products were used as positive controls under the RT-PCR assay conditions used to detect NoV in stool and groundwater samples. Their reliability and reproducibility was confirmed by multiple sets of experiments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These standardized products may contribute to the reliable and accurate diagnosis by RT-PCR of norovirus outbreaks, when conducted by laboratories located in different regions.
authors: Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Sung-Geun
authors: SG
authors: Lee
authors: Soe-Hyun
authors: SH
authors: Lee
authors: Seung-Won
authors: SW
authors: Park
authors: Chang-Il
authors: CI
authors: Suh
authors: Weon-Hwa
authors: WH
authors: Jheong
authors: SeHwan
authors: S
authors: Oh
authors: Soon-Young
authors: SY
authors: Paik
references: Ann Intern Med. 1972 Jun;76(6):993-1008
references: 4554885
references: J Clin Microbiol. 2004 Jul;42(7):2988-95
references: 15243049
references: Emerg Infect Dis. 2005 Dec;11(12):1874-81
references: 16485473
references: Trends Microbiol. 2004 Jun;12(6):279-87
references: 15165606
references: J Infect Dis. 2005 Sep 1;192 Suppl 1:S57-63
references: 16088806
references: Arch Virol. 2000;145(2):223-41
references: 10752550
references: Leukemia. 2001 Jul;15(7):1033-7
references: 11455970
references: Am J Epidemiol. 1982 Dec;116(6):940-8
references: 6293306
references: N Engl J Med. 2009 Oct 29;361(18):1776-85
references: 19864676
references: J Clin Microbiol. 2000 Feb;38(2):530-6
references: 10655340
references: Ann Intern Med. 1982 Jun;96(6 Pt 1):756-61
references: 6283977
references: Appl Environ Microbiol. 1995 Aug;61(8):3014-8
references: 7487032
references: J Clin Microbiol. 2008 Apr;46(4):1474-7
references: 18272704
references: J Clin Virol. 2009 Jan;44(1):1-8
references: 19084472
references: J Infect Dis. 1982 Aug;146(2):190-7
references: 6286788
references: Clin Microbiol Rev. 2001 Jan;14(1):15-37
references: 11148001
references: J Infect Dis. 2002 Jul 1;186(1):1-7
references: 12089655
references: J Clin Microbiol. 1997 Feb;35(2):511-4
references: 9003630