title: Evaluation of a new real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay for detection of norovirus in fecal specimens.
abstract: A new real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay, the AccuPower Norovirus Real-time RT-PCR Kit, was evaluated in detection of human norovirus in stool specimens. Studies for detection limit, dynamic range, reproducibility, and cross-reactivity were performed. A total of 281 fecal specimens were tested using the AccuPower Norovirus Real-time RT-PCR Kit, and the results were compared with those obtained using another real-time RT-PCR system. Norovirus positivity and genotype were confirmed by direct sequencing. The lowest mean numbers of genome copies of GI and GII that could be detected by the assay were 12.3 and 5.6 RNA copies/reaction, respectively. The positive, negative, and overall percent agreements between the 2 real-time PCR assays were 99.0% (96/97), 95.1% (175/184), and 96.4% (271/281), respectively. The AccuPower Norovirus Real-time RT-PCR system showed good analytical and clinical performance and may be a useful diagnostic tool for norovirus infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, 40, Sukwoo-Dong, Hwaseong-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, 445-170, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jungwon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hyun
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, 40, Sukwoo-Dong, Hwaseong-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, 445-170, South Korea. Electronic address: hskim0901@empas.com.
authors.forename: Hyun Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, 40, Sukwoo-Dong, Hwaseong-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, 445-170, South Korea.
authors.forename: Han-Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, 40, Sukwoo-Dong, Hwaseong-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, 445-170, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyu Man
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D029322:Norovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Comparison; Evaluation; Genotype; Norovirus; Real-time PCR