title: Minimum detection limit of an in-house nested-PCR assay for herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) are responsible for a variety of human diseases, including central nervous system diseases. The use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques on cerebrospinal fluid samples has allowed the detection of viral DNA with high sensitivity and specificity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serial dilutions of quantified commercial controls of each virus were subjected to an in-house nested-PCR technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The minimum detection limits for HSV and VZV were 5 and 10 copies/µL, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The detection limit of nested-PCR for HSV and VZV in this study was similar to the limits found in previous studies.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Residência Integrada Multiprofissional em Saúde, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto AlegreRS.
authors.forename: Diógenes
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de-Paris
authors.forename: Rodrigo Minuto
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Paiva
mesh_terms: D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral