title: Development and optimization of a real-time PCR assay for detection of herpes simplex and varicella-zoster viruses in skin and mucosal lesions by use of the BD Max open system.
abstract: We transitioned laboratory-developed PCR assays for herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), HSV-2, and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) to the BD Max system by using BD Max open system reagents. After optimization, the agreement with the reference PCR assay was 100% (123/123) for HSV-1, 96.7% (119/123) for HSV-2, and 100% (60/60) for VZV using retrospective clinical samples.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Clinical Virology Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA cardenasa@chop.edu.
authors.forename: Ana María
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cárdenas
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Paul H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Edelstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alby
mesh_terms: D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012867:Skin / Q000821:virology*; D014773:Virology / Q000379:methods